Arsenal, Manchester United an Manchester City are all reportedly showing interest in Newcastle United wonderkid Lewis Gibson
Tribal Football are claiming that Newcastle United wonderkid Lewis Gibson is attracting interest from the Premier League biggies. Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal and are reported to be showing interest in the youngster, who is yet to make his senior debut for the Magpies.
Bleacher Report are also reporting that the trio could make a move for Gibson in the summer and has quoted a source close to the club, which said that the player could be on the move.
The source said, “Newcastle have not seen many youngsters come through in recent years, so to lose Lewis would be a huge blow. They had earmarked him for a big future at the club.”
Lewis Gibson is a 16-year-old English centre-back who has progressed through the Magpies’ youth setup. The player has managed to break into the Under-23 side and looks destined for a big future in football, with reports suggesting he could be earning his senior debut soon.
The 16-year-old is a regular for the Under-17 side of the Three Lions, with 10 appearances under his belt. His performances at the academy level have caught the eye of the aforementioned clubs and now Newcastle are bracing themselves for a fight to keep the player at the club.
One of the biggest hurdles is that Lewis Gibson is still on scholarship terms at the Tyneside, which means the interested clubs can acquire him for a measly compensation fee.
Man United Transfer News: Reds target Newcastle ace Lewis Gibson – Arsenal, Man City keen – Daily Star https://t.co/BgGW85eqRV pic.twitter.com/VxAOmZwV8T
— Manchester United (@ManUtd24x7) March 31, 2017
While Newcastle are desperate to hand the player a professional contract at the club, the arrival of interest from three of the biggest names in English football is unlikely to help their case.
Manchester City already have a burgeoning youth setup, with Kelechi Iheanacho and Tosin Adarabioyo already breaking into the side while Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho are widely seen as the next ones in line.
Arsenal, too, have a fledgling academy filled with exciting young prospects like Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah along with other promising players.
Manchester United, though, look the most ambitious at the moment at the youth level, with a recruitment spree being conducted by the club in order to bring the youth setup back to its glorious competitive level, after falling behind to their local rivals, Manchester City.
The Red Devils boast of players like Tahith Chong, Nishan Burkart, Lee O’Connor, Angel Gomes, Joshua Bohui, Aidan Barlow, Axel Tuanzebe, Ro-Shaun Williams, Indy Boonen and more. But, they are still linked with several youngsters and have brought in Millen Baars already while other deals are in the negotiations phase.
Newcastle are in a battle to hold onto teenage defender Lewis Gibsonhttps://t.co/HAyDTM8J1j pic.twitter.com/zXEPgZzzmy
— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesBR) March 30, 2017
For now, Newcastle might just be the best option for Lewis Gibson, both in terms of present development and a faster track to the senior side.
But, as is often the case at the youth level, he may end up being poached by one of the aforementioned trio; where he will end up being one among the several equally talented players and may even have to fight for his place in the youth squad as well.
Only time will tell which path he chooses to follow. Either way, he looks like a solid centre-back in the making.
