Gibson closes in on Ipswich loan – will sign new contract before leaving

Everton defender Lewis Gibson is close to signing for Ipswich Town on loan, according to the East Anglian Times.

The 19-year centre-back was ready to quit Everton and return to Newcastle, as reported by Football Insider in November, with the defender having found his path to the first-team blocked.

However, the East Anglian Times claim that Gibson is now close to joining the Tractor Boys, and that he will likely sign a new contract with Everton before he departs Merseyside.

Gibson is out of contract next summer (Transfermarkt), and the Liverpool Echo had reported that the defender had sought assurances over his future before deciding whether to commit to a new contract.

Everton had signed the 17-year old ‘wonderkid’ for £6million in 2017 (Chronicle Live), and fans will likely be relieved to see the club secure his long-term future.

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If true, this is fantastic news. Following Football Insider’s report that Gibson wanted to leave the club back in November, it had been a concern that Everton would lose a player once described as ‘outstanding’ and ‘a natural born leader’ by David Unsworth (Liverpool Echo).

Having seen Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny, Mason Holgate and Dominic Calvert-Lewin progress from the Under-23s into the first-team on Merseyside in recent years, Marco Silva had looked to progress Gibson into the first-team, alongside Anthony Gordon and Dennis Adeniran (Liverpool Echo), though none of them received their debut during his tenure.

While Gibson might not be on the cusp of making his first-team debut just yet, it must be seen as a positive that Everton were able to convince the young centre-back that his future is with the Toffees, particularly given the Liverpool Echo’s claim that he wanted those first-team assurances.