Keeping Gibson on Boro books Monk’s pre-season priority
GARRY Monk will prioritise his efforts this week in trying to keep top defender Ben Gibson at the Riverside.
Boro’s new boss is well aware of the massive ongoing contribution which centre-back Gibson makes to the team.
There are believed to be several Premier League clubs potentially ready to fork out more than £20m for Gibson, including Liverpool.
While such a huge amount of transfer cash from Gibson’s sale would be very useful for Monk, the manager is leaning more towards trying to keep Gibson for at least another season.
So Monk wants to convince Gibson to stick with his home-town club for at least one more season, in the hope Boro can win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
It’s a difficult decision for the 24-year-old, who has been promoted to Gareth Southgate’s England international squad this summer.
The Teessider naturally will be keen to stay in Southgate’s plans and hopefully win his first full cap in the near future.
Gibson, who is the nephew of Boro chairman Steve Gibson, will be mulling over the possibility of achieving his international ambitions in the Championship, albeit probably for only 12 months.
Ben is well aware of the newspapers stories which report that opportunities exist elsewhere in the Premier League.
But, as a true Teessider, he loves the Boro to bits and, in an ideal world, would never consider leaving.
Monk, who revealed he has monitored Gibson’s progress from afar over the last couple of years, put
his cards clearly on the table when he stressed how Gibson was to the club.
He said: “Ben is one of several players here who are integral to the squad. They are integral to making that step back to the Premier League.
“Ben is obviously a big focal point in the team. I’ve watched him over the last couple of seasons and I’m well aware of him and what he can bring to the team.
“It’s important for any team that you keep your best players. It’s important that you’re able to keep a core together.
“In this way you give yourself the best possible opportunity of achieving the club’s ambition, which is to try to get back up at the first attempt.
“It’s important that we keep our best important players. We’ve already discussed this fact and the club is in agreement.”
If Monk can hang on to Gibson for at least another 12 months, then it will send out a clear message to the rest of the Championship that they mean business.
In media interviews, several Championship managers have already stressed that they see Boro as one of their major rivals for promotion.
If Gibson reveals he is prepared to stay, it will also give a massive boost to Boro’s first-team squad. He is admired by everybody, both as a man and as a footballer, and his continuing presence will have a massive impact in the dressing room.
Monk will also need to hold talks with other members of the squad who have question marks hanging over them.
Dutch international midfielder Marten de Roon is said to be interesting several clubs, while Viktor Fischer is a target for Celtic.
There’s also the matter of Gaston Ramirez. The Uruguayan was not the most popular member of the squad towards the end of last season and it has genuinely been assumed he had played his last game for the club.
However, the arrival of Monk arguably sweeps the board clean. The new boss will be well aware of Ramirez’s match-winning qualities.
Whether he decides to take a risky punt on Ramirez, or looks for a buyer, remains to be seen.
Ramirez was believed to be a major target for Leicester City last January but there have been no indications that the Foxes have returned with a new bid.
Another player who could be on his way is Adama Traore, who is believed to be a target for West Ham United.
Few Premier League managers can fail to have been impressed with Traore’s searing dribbling runs last season. He has electric pace and can leave the best of defenders in his wake.
However, there was not always any effective end product from Traore’s dramatic bursts forward. Monk may well have a look at a few videos before making a final decision.
The Spaniard could certainly torture Championship left-backs. But if his final distribution has not improved, he could be a luxury at that level.
Monk will surely consider offers for any of his players, but the ones which will give him the most reluctance to entertain are those concerning Gibson.