Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson in the summer.
According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Arsenal are hot on the trail of Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson, who they hope to sign in the summer with a bid to end their defensive woes.
The Gunners have not been at their best defensively this season, and are in serious danger of missing out on the top four. They have failed to win a single trophy this season, although there is some light at the end of tunnel as they have an FA Cup final against Chelsea to look forward to.
Shkodran Mustafi’s £35 million acquisition last summer looked to be a signal of intent by manager Arsene Wenger, who finally decided to loosen the purse strings to rope in quality players at the Emirates Stadium.
While initial signs showed that the German was a good buy, his impact has slowly begun to diminish, and is not Wenger’s go to centre-backs anymore. However, due to no good enough options to replace him, the Frenchman is forced into fielding the defender when fit.
But Wenger will look to add to the depth in the squad in the transfer window, and has eyed Ben Gibson as the man to challenge Mustafi for a place in the starting eleven. The likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are also interested, and do have a better chance of signing the player.
The Blues won the Premier League on Friday and will go into next season with high hopes. They will also play in the Champions League, and that could tempt Gibson to move to Stamford Bridge. Liverpool too, have all but secured their participation in the competition for next year.
Also, with Middlesbrough getting relegated this season, Gibson would prefer to stay in the Premier League, rather than play Championship football against the lesser clubs. The likes of Chelsea and Liverpool will be snapping on his heels, hoping to convince Boro to sell.
Recent reports stated that the English defender is likely to stay on with Middlesbrough even after their relegation, but that could soon change if the right offer comes their way from the top Premier League clubs.
Gibson too, would relish the opportunity to play with a number of world-class players that could help him take his game to the next level. He is also extremely versatile as he can operate as a left-back as well a centre-back – giving Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal a vital cog to bolster their back line.
