Norwich City are confident of being able to out-bid Middlesbrough for Burnley defender, Ben Gibson this summer according to journalist, Scott Wilson Chief Sports writer of the Northern Echo.
Norwich confident of being able to outbid #Boro to sign Ben Gibson from Burnley – I guess that's what £40m of parachute payments does for you….https://t.co/meJPbuFerV
— Scott Wilson (@Scottwilsonecho) August 10, 2020
In his article (above) Mr Wilson suggests that Middlesbrough are keen on brining their academy product back to the Riverside. Gibson spent eight years at Boro, making 185 appearances before signing a four-year-deal with Burnley in 2018 for a reported £15m.
New Middlesbrough manager, Neil Warnock would like to reunite Gibson with his boyhood club and it does seem an easy fit, with the player also being the nephew of Chairman, Steve Gibson.
However, as with everything in life, it’s likely to be about money with the suggestion being that Gibson is earning £45k per week at Burnley, for whom it should be noted, he has barely ever played. Mr Wilson says that Middlesbrough are only willing to pay around £12-15k on a weekly salary this summer and that means a loan is their only realistic option, also meaning that Burnley would have to pay the rest, should they agree.
Burnley may have to accept a loan but could also be keen to sell him which might even still be too rich for Norwich with two-years left on his Clarets’ deal. So, it could be a loan or a loan with an agreement to buy, something like that and Mr Wilson reports that Norwich are confident that they can pay more than Boro for Gibson.
It could be that Norwich will offer to pay something like half his salary or more now to get the loan done, for what would be a very confident and experienced player at this level. At 27-years-old, he is also likely to be at the peak of his powers.
It may be that Gibson would actually prefer a return to his boyhood club but he may not get a say in it if Burnley simply look at this in financial terms, which they probably will, although the player could, I suppose, refuse to move ala Gareth Bale. There’s no suggestion we’re in that sort of situation here though and it could well be that he simply wants to play again after two-years in the Burnley wilderness. For a player that had previously featured in an England squad, that’s got to be tough to take.
In other news, the Canaries reported interest in Chelsea starlet, Ethan Ampadu, looks as though it has gone cold with newly promoted Fulham now in the box seat for his signature.
Ethan Ampadu: Norwich City would’ve loved to loan him in for next season. DM role plus CB cover. But it isn’t going to happen.
Chelsea now have a Premier League option, just down the road. So I believe a loan to Fulham is likely.#NCFC @TheAthleticUK
— Michael Bailey (@michaeljbailey) August 9, 2020
Oh well, back to the drawing board but don’t be surprised if another similar, highly thought of youngster appears in that defensive midfield position.
OTBC