Southampton are reportedly lining up a move for Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson to replace Virgil van Djik who could be Liverpool-bound.
The Boro man has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal, as has the Southampton defender, but it seems as if they are both going to head elsewhere, giving the impression that Arsenal weren’t actually in for either of them in the first place.
Shocking, huh?
Boro want £30m for Gibson because, well, he’s English, innit. Southampton wanted £50m for van Dijk because they know Liverpool are stupid enough to pay it.
Arsenal? They probably don’t even want another central defender given that they have Rob Holding, Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers, Gabriel, and Per Mertesacker already along with Nacho Monreal who can play as part of the three.
Last month it was claimed that Liverpool had reached an agreement with van Dijk over a transfer but things got nasty as the Saints prepared to report Jurgen Klopp’s side for an illegal approach. His price has now seemingly risen to £60m. Why? Because Liverpool, probably.
And, for the record, having tracked Calum Chambers on loan at Boro last season alongside Gibson, the Arsenal man was actually the better defender…