West Ham, Leicester and Everton eyeing £20m Middlesbrough ace Ben Gibson

WEST HAM, Everton and Leicester are all keen to sign Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson this summer, according to reports.

The Premier League trio lead the list of clubs who have been tracking the 25-year-old centre-back over the past few months as they look to strengthen their squads this summer.

Reuters

Gibson is regarded as one of the best young players outside the top flight, having already proven his quality in the highest division earlier in his career.

And Sky Sports say all three are ready to make their moves to sign him in the summer if Boro fail in their bid to win promotion back to the Premier League.

Gibson had been an outside chance for a place in the England squad for the World Cup last year, after being called up to the squad by manager Gareth Southgate.

But his decision to remain loyal to Middlesbrough in the Championship after their relegation last season has ultimately seen him drop out of the international reckoning.

Ed Sykes

The academy graduate, who is nephew of Boro owner Steve Gibson, wanted to stay at the Riverside in order to help lead them back into the top flight.

Yet failure to secure promotion this season could mean he finally decides to leave to further his own career.

Rex Features

With a valuation of around £20million, that would make him an attractive option for a number of sides who will be buying a player still with time to hit his peak.

Boro are currently fifth in the Championship and need just a point to assure themselves of a place in the play-offs.

Everton boss Sam Allardyce has been a long-term admirer of Gibson, and is looking to make big changes to a defence that has proven to be a weak part of his side this season.

Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams are both approaching the final years of the careers, and Gibson would be exactly the kind of talented young player Everton are looking to bring in.

Richard Pelham

But Hammers boss David Moyes is also in the market for at least one centre-back, with James Collins yet to be awarded a new contract and fitness concerns over Winston Reid.

Leicester’s interest in Gibson is long-standing, and they made approaches for him in the last two transfer windows.

Boro were able to reject those advances knowing the defender was a key part of their promotion push, but they would find it hard to block a move to the top flight if they were forced to spend another season in the Championship.