Everton are reportedly tracking Middlesbrough centre-back Ben Gibson, as doubts persist over the future of Chelsea target John Stones.
The Daily Mirror claims that 22-year-old Gibson, who starred in Boro’s run to the play-off final last season, is one of a number of defenders on manager Roberto Martinez’s revised shortlist, as the Catalan looks to add to his defensive options this summer.
The Blues are already in the market for a central defender after the departures of veterans Sylvain Distin and Antolin Alcaraz.
New West Ham signing Angelo Ogbonna was believed to be the club’s top target but the Italian opted for bright lights of London over a move to Merseyside.
Now, as Chelsea intensify their efforts to land England international Stones, the Goodison club have stepped up their own attempts to sign at least 1 defender this month, with Inter Milan’s Nemanja Vidic also on their radar.
Gibson featured alongside Stones for England U21’s throughout much of last season, and is highly-rated by the Teeside club, with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool also rumoured to be interested, if the Middlesbrough Gazette are to believed.
The academy product typically plays on the left-side of the central defensive pairing and is confident on the ball, which fits Everton manager Martinez’s brief regarding any new signing.
It remains to be seen if the £10 million-rated talent would serve as a direct replacement for Stones if the former Barnsley man were to leave, or as cover for the current incumbent of the Everton number 5 shirt.
Everton fans, of course, will hope it is the latter…
