Boro to block Liverpool from signing star defender
​Tottenham have also been linked to the 24-year-old, but recent reports from the Mail indicated that he topped Jurgen Klopp’s list, the Reds having failed to land expensive centre-back Virgil van Dijk. West Brom and Leicester City are also known to be big fans.
The England hopeful has had a strong campaign with Middlesbrough, their relegation leading many to speculate that he will stay in the Premier League.
The Middlesbrough captain suffered relegation with the Teesiders this season but was one of the club's stand-out performers nevertheless.
The Mirror write, in fact, that Boro will block any attempt to sign the 24-year-old, who is one of two promising Englishmen (George Friend being the other) in the Teesiders’ defence.
It is reported that new Coach Garry Monk will speak to Gibson in order to persuade him to stay at his hometown club. Gibson is famous for being owner Steve Gibson’s nephew, but nobody was hinting at favouritism when the centre-back (along with ex-Red Daniel Ayala) formed a rock-solid partnership to take Boro back to the Promised Land in 2015-2016, after an eight-year wait.
"Ben is one of a number of players here who are integral to the squad, integral to making that step back,” Monk - formerly the Coach at Swansea - confirmed.
“Ben is obviously a big focal point the team. I’ve watched him over the last couple of seasons, and I’m well aware of him and what he can bring to the team.
“It’s important that we keep our best players, and the club are in agreement with that.”