Championship side Middlesbrough have reportedly rejected a third bid from West Bromwich Albion for their star centre half Ben Gibson as the Teesside aim to sell him for a higher fee. The 24-year-old English international has been one of the revelations of last season and although his heroics weren’t enough to save Boro from relegation, his displays surely did earn him some fans.
The Baggies have been one of the least active sides in the transfer window this summer. Manager Tony Pulis has brought in only two players so far- Jay Rodriguez from Southampton and Ahmed Hegazy from Egyptian club El Ahly Cairo. The Hawthorns are yet to fill in the large void left by the departure of Darren Fletcher to Stoke City earlier this summer.
West Brom had a decent 10th place finish to the campaign the last term where they had collected 48 points from 36 games, the most they have in top-flight football. The Welsh manager was seen getting his tactics spot on as his conservative style of playing saw off tough sides like Arsenal and Manchester United.
Despite ending the season in the most horrific way possible, losing seven of their last eight games and drawing one, Pulis still has the confidence of the board. However, it is quite understood that the ageing back line wouldn’t be enough to get them to the next level. The 59-year-old has Jonny Evans (29) and Gareth McAuley (37) in his central defence and is in desperate need of young blood.
Boro have come to terms with the fact that they will be unable to hold on to the rising star this summer and the player’s insistence to play at the top level has forced them to look at suitors. The Nunthorpe-born player was among the three centre-halves that came into limelight for their performances last season.
And while both Michael Keane and Harry Maguire have earned their big move, Gibson is the one left. However, with North London giants Tottenham Hotspur keen to make a move for the centre half, both Gibson and Boro have hope for a better deal than what Baggies are offering. Pulis has to work with a restrained budget, which was one of the reasons the club couldn’t agree to Fletcher’s wage demands.
Not only him, but the club also had to part ways with Jonas Olsson this summer and are yet to find a like for like replacement for him. Their third offer for Gibson was £18 million plus £3m in add-ons, and they are unlikely to improve it further. And with just two weeks to the season, the Baggies find themselves in deep waters.
