Tottenham are keen on Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson and Alfie Mawson of Swansea City – but which would be the best buy?
Tottenham Hotspur are keen to sign an English defender to boost their options at the back this summer, while moving Kevin Wimmer out of the door, according to the Mirror.
The report says that Spurs want £20m for Wimmer and will replace him with a homegrown centre-back – with Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson and Alfie Mawson of Swansea City having emerged as the most likely candidates
So which Englishman would be the best fit for Mauricio Pochettino?
England’s Ben Gibson during training
Ben Gibson
The Gazette says that Boro will have looked at Everton’s £30m signing of Michael Keane and Harry Maguire joining Leicester City from Hull City for £17m and will want around £25m for Gibson.
That would be a staggering amount for a player whose 38 Premier League games to date all came last season, but then neither Keane or Maguire have huge amounts of top flight experience either.
What Gibson does have is being part of a Middlesbrough defence that was the tenth best in the division in 2016/17 despite the fact they finished 19th, and an England call-up on the back of that. Not bad.
Alfie Mawson
Gibson may have limited top flight experience but Mawson, signed from Barnsley last August, has even less with 27 appearances to his name – and also an impressive four goals.
Wales Online says that Tottenham are preparing a £20m bid for the England Under-21 international, which would effectively mean that if all goes to plan for the North London outfit he would be a straight swap for Wimmer.
Despite being just one year younger than Gibson, Mawson has significantly less experience overall, though, and while capped at youth level there is no murmur of him being in the senior Three Lions squad just yet.
Swansea City’s Alfie Mawson celebrates after the match
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