Everton Under 23s defender Lewis Gibson is ‘close’ to joining Ipswich Town on loan for the remainder of the season, according to the East Anglian Daily Times.
The Championship side are in the market for defensive reinforcements this month, with manager Paul Lambert expected to lose 27-year-old Toto Nsiala to Bolton Wanderers in a temporary deal.
Gibson is considered to also be a target for Scottish Premiership title-hopefuls Celtic, having demonstrated an extremely comfortable presence on the ball during our U23s fixtures.
Youth head coach David Unsworth has called on the 19-year-old to start five of our 14 Premier League 2 fixtures thus far this season, along with three outings in the EFL Trophy.
Gibson, signed from Newcastle United in 2017 for a potential £6million, is out of contract at Goodison Park this summer, though the East Anglian Daily Times believe it is likely he will pen new terms before making a temporary switch to Portman Road.
Will Gibson break into our first-team?
Yes
No
Lambert is already calling on the services of one Everton man in Luke Garbutt, and is keen to strike a permanent deal for the left-back who is out of contract at Goodison Park this summer.
It remains to be seen if Gibson’s spell at Portman Road will prove beneficial for Everton or the teenager, as the man he is due to replace, Nsiala, has been a rarely-seen member of Lambert’s dressing room this season.
The greatest benefit to the East Anglian Daily Times’ report for us will be in Gibson penning a new contract before leaving, as the England U20 international is currently set to become a free agent in July and has been linked with a return to Newcastle.
In other Everton news, the club have been offered the chance to sign a £4.5m-rated midfielder during the January window.