Leeds United have been linked with the English centre-back.
It looks like Leeds United may have a fight with a former player to sign Ben Gibson this summer.
The Northern Echo reported last week that the Elland Road side were one of the clubs interested in the Burnley defender, who sealed a £15 million switch to Turf Moor last year.
But according to the print edition of The Mirror [28/07/2019, page 51], his former club Middlesbrough are in the reckoning – and this could be very bad news for Leeds’ chances.
Boro are managed by former Whites’ centre-back Jonathan Woodgate and it just so happens that Gibson likes the legendary defender.
Speaking to The Teeside Gazette, Gibson recalled a number of anecdotes in which Woodgate appears to have played the role as mentor to the 26-year-old central defender.
Whether it was an ‘incredible’ phone call that Woodgate made to him to tell him about his positioning, or a video montage of the world’s finest centre-backs that he sent him, Gibson seems like he looks up to the ex-Leeds star and if Woodgate goes in for him, the West Yorkshire side might find it hard to compete.
Marcelo Bielsa badly needs at least two centre-backs before the transfer window shuts on August 8, having sold four defenders this summer.
And if Gibson is off the table then it makes for a bit of a trolley dash for the Argentine and Victor Orta.
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