Middlesbrough are reportedly facing a losing battle to keep Ben Gibson, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City all keen this summer.
The 24-year-old has been an integral part of the Boro side this season on their return to the Premier League, as he has been an ever-present and a stand-out player in their bid to beat the drop.
With 31 appearances in all competitions, he has seemingly impressed several other big clubs as The Daily Mail report that four top flight teams are keen on signing him this summer.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City are all explicitly mentioned in the report, while it’s added that Gibson will likely command a fee of around £25m as Boro look to get the best possible figure for him knowing that it’s likely he’ll move on.
Further, Chelsea appeared to be in pole position for the defender having scouted him on more than one occasion this season, but the Mail add an interesting note that Liverpool could hold the key to prising him away from the Riverside Stadium.
Anfield scout Jonathan Woodgate has a close relationship with Gibson, and he’s now seen as a possible way for the Reds to steal a march on their rivals and convince Gibson to make the move to Merseyside instead.
It remains to be seen if Boro’s demands are met and if Gibson is keen on an exit, but having been called up to the England squad this week following Chris Smalling’s injury and with a big-money move to one of the top four clubs in the Premier League on the horizon, it looks as though the defensive ace has a big future ahead of him.