Arsenal have reportedly ‘stepped up‘ their chase of Norwich’s 21-year-old defender, Ben Godfrey.

Arsenal were first linked with the player last month when it was claimed they were scouting the player against Ipswich Town. This, it seems, was just one of a number of regular missions to watch the central defender who can also play as a defensive midfielder and is keeping club captain, Grant Haley, out of the starting lineup.

The Mirror claimed Arsenal, Manchester United, Lyon and RB Leipzig all sent scouts to watch Godfrey in that match. They also wrote that Arsenal could move for the English defender as Unai Emery ‘looks to overhaul his rearguard’ this summer.

It won’t be easy to pry the young defender away though, as Norwich reportedly have ‘no desire’ to cash in on him.

At the start of the season, Godfrey wasn’t a regular feature of the Championship side’s starting eleven, and it took until December for him to make his first league start. Since then, he’s made himself almost undroppable, defending well and even providing two goals and a couple of assists.

Godfrey isn’t the first Norwich defender Arsenal have been linked to. The Gunners have also had regular reports connecting them with a move for fellow youngster Max Aarons, who plays at right-back.