Southampton: Should the Saints take the risk on Ben Gibson?

Southampton are still yet to make a play in this transfer window, but Ben Gibson could be the answer to that problem.

It’s been a month near enough since the curtain was drawn on the 2017/18 season, yet the Saints are still nowhere near completing any transfer business, if we’re to go off the strength of rumours alone.

With the World Cup just a day away it’s looking even less likely that Southampton will complete much business at all now until July, even though the transfer window closes three weeks earlier than it normally does.

However one possible way to kick off the summer’s signings would be Ben Gibson – a name which has once again done the rounds following a rather loose link to Southampton from Sky Bet.

It’s never a wise move to believe a betting company when it comes to transfer dealings, as the chances are they are simply trying to persuade a customer into believing they know something regarding the player’s destination. In this instance, they are offering odds as low as 2/1 for Gibson to join Southampton this summer.

Next: Mark Hughes wants to 'dictate the opposition'

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 06: Ben Gibson of Middlesbrough during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Middlesbrough and Sunderland at the Riverside Stadium on January 6, 2018 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /

The Saints have been linked with Ben Gibson before after Boro were relegated last year, however they eventually went with Wesley Hoedt who enjoyed a rather inconsistent first campaign for Southampton.

More from Saints Marching

Back then, Gibson was valued as highly as £20 million having been called up for the England senior side for the first time. Despite being linked away, the 25-year-old stayed with Middlesbrough and went on to make 45 league appearances as they reached the Championship playoffs.

Southampton themselves narrowly avoided relegation this time around and are in dire need of new centre-half, having sold Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool in January without replacing him.

Granted, fourth-choice defender Jan Bednarek came into his own towards the end of the season, but the Southampton board would be foolish to believe that the young Polish international is at the same level as an Alfie Mawson, per say.

The Swansea defender has been strongly linked himself but with the Welsh side digging their heels in on their steep valuation, Gibson could be a suitable fall-back option.

Southampton don’t want to be chasing someone like Mawson for the next six weeks only for an Everton or a West Ham to pip them at the finish. If Gibson is keen to step back to the top flight, and can be signed for a more modest fee, the Saints should jump at the opportunity.

By staying at Boro as they were relegated, he has also shown himself to be loyal, something the Southampton squad has been void of on the best part since rejoining the Premier League.

He may not be a glamorous arrival and he’d be more of a risk than signing someone like Mawson or maybe even Kurt Zouma, but if the signing of Gibson can be across the line in the next couple of weeks then the Saints should 100% take a punt.