Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson is the centre-back West Ham should concentrate on.
West Ham have this week been connected with a move for Leeds defender Pontus Jansson, Teamtalk report, but the Hammers could do better.
Jansson has been out of form this season and Middlesbrough centre-back Ben Gibson would be a far superior option.
Gibson is good enough to be playing in the Premier League already and impressed last season in the top flight, getting called up into the England squad.
He knowingly sacrificed his World Cup dream to stay with boyhood club Middlesbrough this season to try and lead them back into the Championship.
Boro are battling to secure a play-off place and try their luck to win promotion that way, but if they do not, then Gibson may have to accept it is time to put himself first.
The 25-year-old is an outstanding talent who could potentially lead the line at the back for West Ham for several years to come. As he is showing at Boro, he’s captain material.
Middlesbrough will be desperate to hang onto him, and this alone says a lot about his quality. Last summer he was valued at £25 million, with six clubs including Chelsea claimed to be keen, The Sun reported.
They are under no pressure to sell after Gibson penned a five-year contract with the club last Autumn.
Yet if West Ham secure their Premier League status and Middlesbrough miss out, trying to tempt him away would be smart from the Hammers.
Moving for Leeds’ Jansson may be settling for second best, and West Ham should set their sights on the better player.
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