Middlesbrough slap £25million price tag on defender Ben Gibson with SIX Premier League clubs keen including Chelsea

MIDDLESBROUGH have slapped a £25million price tag on defender Ben Gibson with a string of Premier League clubs lined up to snatch him away.

Despite relegation back to the Championship, Gibson was one of Boro’s outstanding performers and earned himself an England senior call-up.

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According to the Premier League champions, Tottenham, Everton, Southampton, Leicester, and Stoke are all keen on the 24-year-old, who looks certain to leave this summer.

Keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip, rumours and done deals in SunSport’s live transfer blog

New Boro boss Garry Monk is desperate to keep Gibson at the Riverside as the club look for an immediate return to the top flight.

Gibson, nephew of chairman Steve, has spent all his career at Boro but will be keen to continue his career in the Premier League to enhance his England chances ahead of the World Cup in Russia.

The Championship side are hoping the huge price tag is an indication of how much they want to keep their prize asset.

However, the fee has not deterred Blues boss Antonio Conte, who is on the hunt for a new centre-back to replace Aston Villa-bound John Terry.

Ben Gibson factfile

• Ben Gibson was born in Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough on January 15 1993
• He is the nephew of Boro chairman Steve Gibson
• Gibson learnt his trade in the lower leagues with loan spells at Plymouth, York and Tranmere
• He made his Boro debut against Coventry in April 2011 and has played over 150 games since
• After losing in the play-off final the previous season, Gibson played a key role in helping Middlesbrough to win promotion from the Championship in 2016
• Gibson appeared in all 38 Premier League matches for Boro as they were relegated last season
• He has represented England at U17, U18, U20 and U21 level and received his first senior call-up in March

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Conte has demanded additions to his Stamford Bridge squad next season to help with the Premier League title defence and the return to the Champions League.

Spurs are also in the mix for Gibson after losing out on Michael Keane, who is close to joining Everton.
Monk starts life in the North East with a tough trip to Wolves on the opening weekend of the season.