£20m+ needed to Bag Gibson

THE potential departure of England squad defender Ben Gibson from the Riverside may yet partly finance Boro’s massive summer outlay.

West Brom are reported to have had two bids turned down for the 24-year-old Teessider, who must surely be valued by Boro at £20m-plus.

The ball is now in the Baggies’ court to come up with an improved offer which might tempt Boro to sell their star asset.

The evidence suggests Boro do not need to sell Gibson to compensate for their huge investment in the transfer market this close season.

But all reports suggest Gibson wants to continue his Premier League career, having earned his place in the England squad last season.

Half the Premier League clubs were linked with interest in Gibson early in the summer so it is a little bit of a surprise West Brom have emerged as the leaders of the chase.

In addition, the Baggies not believed to be capable of stumping up the kind of inflated fees which the top four or five clubs can shell out.

Maybe there are other clubs still sniffing around. Transfer fees these days appear to have gone mad, but £20m-plus for Gibson is not out of line with Premier League fees in general.

The defender oozed quality last season despite Boro’s overall problems. There’s no doubt he is ready-made for top flight football.

Gibson is currently recovering from a nose injury suffered in the friendly at Rochdale, which initially may hand an opportunity for another of Boro’s home-grown starlets to prove his worth.

Nineteen-years-old Dael Fry, who will have benefitted from his loan spell with Rotherham United last season, could be given the chance to stake his claim for a senior place.

Fry, who was a member of the England Under-20 side which won the World Cup in South Korea this year, has made eight Boro league and cup appearances so far.