Promotion vital to Gibson future

PROMOTION back to the Premier League should settle any doubts about the future of skipper Ben Gibson. He’ll be staying put at the Boro. But if Tony Pulis’s men fail to regain their top-flight spot at the first attempt, Boro can expect to receive interest from a handful of Premier League clubs.

Everton, Leicester City and neighbours Newcastle United have already pencilled Gibson on to their list of possible summer targets, according to reports.

It was touch and go whether Boro would hang on to Gibson last summer. Ironically the biggest interest at that time came from Pulis, the then-manager of West Brom.

Boro are said to have turned down two offers for Gibson from the Baggies, including one approaching £20m.

Then the Foxes were said to have made an inquiry during the January transfer window.

Quite clearly Pulis will not want to lose such a quality defender should Boro have to spend another season in the Championship.

Boro have a strong string to their bow in that Gibson still has four years remaining on his contract.

And, in a perfect world, Gibson would not want to go anywhere away from Teesside.

The 25-year-old Middlesbrough-born defender’s ideal situation would be for the club to get back up to the Premier League, where he can display his talents on the big stage in a Boro shirt.

Gibson was absolutely outstanding in the top flight last season and his performances attracted the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate.

If the centre-back retains international aspirations then he really needs to be playing regularly in the Premier League to promote himself.

That’s where the team as a whole comes in. If Boro can get back up, then all talk of Gibson being involved in a tug of war during the summer will disappear.

Naturally there is also a possibility that Adama Traore will attract a lot of interest from the major clubs, whichever division Boro are in.

Again, Pulis will not want to sell the livewire Spaniard whatever happens.

But figures of £25m are already being Ben Gibson is likely to stay with Boro if promotion to the Premier League is secured bandied about in the media, which might be difficult to resist if Boro fail to win promotion.

One player who could well be moving on again is striker Ashley Fletcher, whose loan move to Sunderland has not been a success.

The 22-year-old is now said to be a target for Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom, who had ex-Manchester United and West Ham forward Fletcher on loan when he was previously manager of Barnsley.

Heckingbottom appears to be able to get the best out of Fletcher, whose Boro future must be open to doubt following the disappointing spell at the Stadium of Light.

If Leeds come looking to take Fletcher on a season-long loan, it’s hard to imagine Boro turning them down.