Everton are looking to seal a move to sign Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson this summer. According to recent reports, the Toffees are planning to secure the services of the English centre-back when the transfer window opens in the summer. However, they will face stiff competition from West Ham United and Leicester City in pursuit of the 25-year-old’s signature at the end of the season.
Gibson, who is the nephew of Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson, has graduated from the Boro academy and has put in a number of solid defensive displays during the course of this campaign. Some sources are now claiming that the Toffees are keeping tabs on his situation at the Riverside Stadium ahead of a potential move in the off-season. It is believed that the North Yorkshire outfit are looking for a fee in the region of £20m for their prized asset, who penned a new five-year contract earlier this campaign.
The 25-year-old defensive ace has played in every minute of Middlesbrough’s matches in the Skybet Championship this season. He has made 47 appearances for the Boro, scoring one goal and providing three assists in all competitions.
The Blues of Merseyside have a healthy tally of 45 points in 35 league matches and find themselves in the 8th spot in the league rankings. Sam Allardyce is in dire need of some reinforcements in the summer transfer period that would help his team put in a much better showing in the English top-flight next season.
The potential acquisition of Gibson will undoubtedly bolster Allardyce’s defensive options ahead of the new season. Everton have the likes of Ashley Williams, Mason Holgate, Ramiro Funes Mori, Phil Jagielka and Michael Keane vying for a place in Allardyce’s starting eleven. The addition of Gibson will definitely improve their squad and add more competition for places within the Toffees team.
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The English defender is also versatile and primarily operates as a centre-back but can also be deployed in the left-back position which makes him a perfect fit for the Merseyside outfit. At 25, Gibson still has his peak years ahead of him which Everton could look to utilise in the coming years. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Gibson and whether he ends up making a switch to Goodison Park in the near future.
