Chelsea Transfer News: Huge Ben Gibson Price Reported, Latest Blues Rumours

Chelsea will reportedly have to pay £35 million if they want to prise Ben Gibson away from Middlesbrough. 

Gibson has been tracked by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and his scouting team this season, but the hefty price tag is an attempt by Boro to scare the Premier League leaders off, noted John Cross of the Daily Mirror.

Per the report, Boro rate the 23-year-old highly and are using the sale of another young English defender, John Stones for £47 million from Everton to Manchester City, as a guide price; the Teesside club are determined not to sell him on the cheap in January.

Although the Blues have the second-best defensive record in the league behind Tottenham Hotspur, the back line looks to be the main area in which Conte will strengthen in the winter transfer window.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Gary Cahill and David Luiz have partnered up well since the 3-4-3 tactical switch employed by Conte after Chelsea's 3-0 humbling to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in September. But, with John Terry nearing the end of his Blues career and Branislav Ivanovic largely out of favour since that derby defeat, more options are needed.

For a player appearing in England's top flight for the first time, Gibson has been an impressive presence at the back for Boro this season.

Like Stones, he is comfortable on the ball and trusts in his ability to start off his side's attacks rather than always looking to go direct to Alvaro Negredo up front. His sure-footed performances have been the bedrock of Middlesbrough's promising season so far.

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The centre-back is the nephew of Boro chairman Steve Gibson, but earlier this year, he played down suggestions this has helped him in his career on Teesside, per Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.

"

When you’re growing up there are obviously jealous kids saying, 'You’re only at Boro because of your uncle'.

That used to motivate me and I believe it's the reason I’m here now.

[...]

My relationship with him is purely professional. Sitting down to contract negotiations he treats me the same as every other player.

"

Gibson's deal runs until 2021, but that appears unlikely to deter Chelsea from launching a bid next month.

By leading the club to the top of the table, Conte is likely to hold a strong hand with owner Roman Abramovich, which should see the Italian being backed in the transfer market.

It remains to be seen if Boro will be able to hold out for such a high figure as £35 million.

The Stones deal has arguably opened the floodgates and given confidence to smaller Premier League clubs that they can receive huge sums for their talented prospects.

But it is more likely Abramovich will attempt to land the player for a cheaper fee and use the lure of playing for a potential title-winning side in securing Gibson's signature in January.