Southampton will move to sign Middlesbrough defender Ben Gibson if they fail to keep hold of Virgil van Dijk, reports The Sun.
Van Dijk is determined to force through a move away from Southampton this summer and even handed in a formal transfer request on Monday.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s side now have a huge decision to make on Van Dijk’s future, although they are not necessarily in any rush to cash in on the Netherlands international after only agreeing a new long-term deal 12 months ago.
However, in any case Southampton would only be willing to entertain offers for Van Dijk if they received a world record fee for a defender and Pellegrino’s side will reportedly use that money to sign Gibson from Championship side Middlesbrough.
The 24-year-old impressed in the Premier League last season and Boro will only allow their star defender to leave the club if an offer in the region of £30m comes in.
Gibson was one of just three outfielders that played in every minute of Premier League action last season.
