Garry Monk makes keeping highly-rated defender Ben Gibson first priority as new Middlesbrough boss
The ex-Swansea and Leeds chief admits it is vital England centre-half Gibson stays at the Riverside
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GARRY MONK has made keeping Ben Gibson his priority after starting work as Middlesbrough boss.
Monk, 38, was yesterday officially unveiled as Boro’s new manager in a press conference at the Championship club’s Rockliffe HQ.
The ex-Swansea and Leeds chief admits it is vital England centre-half Gibson stays at the Riverside after last season’s top-flight relegation.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are the latest Premier League team to be linked with a £20million move for the 24-year-old star.
But Monk said: “It’s important to keep your best players. And Ben is one of our most important players. It’s crucial we keep him.
“He is a big focal point for this club and team.
“He’s integral to making that step back.
“It’s important to keep a core group together and give yourself the best opportunity of reaching the club’s ambition — a Premier League return.”
Monk stunned Leeds last month by quitting after a seventh-place finish in the Championship.
New Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani was set to trigger a 12-month extension on Monk’s deal.
But he says his decision to leave had nothing to do with Boro.
In fact, Monk hinted it was more to do with the Whites appointing a director of football, Victor Orta.
He said: “It’s important to make clear it was two separate situations.
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“After the season I had I was expecting to go forward in that process and be at Leeds.
“But I had talks with the new ownership and there were things that didn’t tick boxes for me.
“New people came in and there was a new structure. It didn’t suit me.
"So I was a manager out of a job looking for a new challenge.
“Middlesbrough are a very ambitious club. I’ve signed for three years but I think we can get up at the first attempt.”
Monk will get on with appointing his backroom staff, with James Beattie likely to join from Leeds.