Newcastle talent Lewis Gibson looks set for a move to Everton, and his departure could be one the Magpies come to especially regret.
This summer has probably been one of the most successful ones for the England football team internationally since the 1966 World Cup win. The U-21 squad progressed to the semifinals of the European Championship, the U-20s won the World Cup and the U-17 team reached the finals of the European Championships losing out on penalties in the final.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
Lewis Gibson was one of the names which stood out during the U-16 campaign for the Young Lions. The defender’s impressive performances attracted attention from a host of Premier League clubs including Tottenham, Southampton and Everton according to the Chronicle.
The latest reports from the same outlet suggest that Everton have stolen a march for his signature, and the compensation fee is touted to be around the £6 million mark. To put things into perspective, Juventus paid a compensation fee of £3.13 million to Manchester United when Paul Pogba (then 19 years old) move to Turin. Gibson is still just 16.
There is no doubting the potential the youngster possesses, given he broke into the U23s squad for the Magpies at the age of 16. Which brings us to the question, will it come back to haunt Newcastle in the future?
Though it would take some ascent for the Newcastle to look at Gibson with the same regret Manchester United did as Pogba shone at Juventus, his departure would certainly rankle. Newcastle aren’t really blessed in the defensive department, lacking backup to the duo Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett, both positions which can be comfortably filled by the former Middlesbrough youth player. If Newcastle were to keep the youngster around the first team, with an odd appearance in the Cup, they potentially had not only a long-term defensive option but a potential England international.
Given the current market, a ‘potential’ England international would fetch a lot of money, a lot more than the £6 million fee Everton are reportedly willing to pay. Manchester United reportedly paid £27m for Luke Shaw (according to the Mirror), and that was back in 2014. Fees for British talent have only swelled since.
Paul Pogba moved from Manchester United to Juventus back in 2012
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