Norwich City transfer rumours: Spurs and Arsenal linked with huge £50m move for defender

Norwich City defender Ben Godfrey could be in contention for a recall with Christoph Zimmerann a major injury doubt for Wolves Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images ©Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222

The January transfer window may be closed but agents remain busy, with Norwich City defender Ben Godfrey appearing in two separate stories from the same national newspaper in the past 24 hours – alongside a huge £50million transfer tag.

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The Daily Express have run two stories about the England Under-21 international, ahead of Saturday evening's big televised clash against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Carrow Road, for which Godfrey has returned from a three-game suspension.

Canaries fans have become used to seeing the club's best talent being linked with big-money moves to some of the big boys in the last year or so, with Godfrey being linked with a host of clubs regularly.

The latest 'exclusive' from the Express claims that as well as the much-hyped moved of City right-back Max Aarons to Tottenham for around £30million this summer, that Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is keen on 22-year-old Godfrey.

The report adds that the sticking point will be the £50m asking price the Canaries will demand, adding that the powerful defender's former club York City would be due 10 percent of the profits made, having been signed in a deal worth around £1m in January 2016 - although adding that Mourinho is planning a £120m of his defence this summer.

And hot on the heels of that report is another, claiming that Arsenal are 'lining up' a £50m transfer for Godfrey, with the Canaries sitting bottom of the league and seven points from safety with 13 matches remaining.

The fresh rumours add to previous reports that have seen Godfrey linked with Lyon, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Red Bull Leipzig - as well as Spurs and Arsenal previously.

Godfrey has scored five goals in 61 games in total for City, also enjoying a successful season on loan in League One with Shrewsbury during 2017-18, impressing as a defensive midfielder, and has captained the England U21s this season, picking up three caps so far.

While Aarons has been linked with Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Chelsea, West Ham and Everton - as well as Spurs and Arsenal previously.

The 20-year-old has scored three goals and assisted another seven in 68 games for the club, playing a key role in last season's Championship title triumph alongside Godfrey, earning five England U21 caps so far.

VERDICT: City supporters have learned to take such rumours with a pinch of salt, largely due to the amount of stories that have continued to circulate in the nationals and because of the amount of clubs linked.

While it already seems likely that the Canaries may struggle to hold on to both Aarons and Godfrey even if a great escape can be achieved by Daniel Farke's squad, there is no panic over either situation, due to both players signing new long-term contracts last summer.

Aarons is committed until 2024 and Godfrey until 2023, with the option for a further year, and relegation would mean that Norwich would need to generate funds from players sales to deal with the huge drop in income.

City made it clear they wouldn't be selling a key asset in January and stuck to their word, with a stable financial situation keeping them free of the need to sell mid-season.

Both players clearly have top-level ability and ambitions, as well as the potential to continue improving, yet all they should be worrying about for now is trying to keep Norwich in the Premier League - the club which brought them to this stage of their careers.