Why Newcastle United would be wise to re-sign Lewis Gibson
As per Daily Mail, Newcastle United are keen to re-sign promising centre-back Lewis Gibson in the summer.
Gibson was an integral member of Everton’s U23 side which claimed a brilliant double the last term. They lifted both the Premier League 2 and Premier League Cup trophies at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old left Newcastle to join Everton in a £6million deal and was a part of the England Under-17 side which won the World Cup. But according to the Daily Mail, he has grown frustrated at the lack of first-team football after two years of starring for the Under-23s.
Newcastle have done relatively well under new coach Steve Bruce, gathering eight points in eight Premier League games. Placed just 4 points behind Burnley, they managed three clean sheets in those appearances, including the 1-0 win over Manchester United.
Bruce has mostly preferred a five-man backline this season which includes club captain Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar and Paul Dummett in the heart of the defence with Jetro Willems and Emil Krafth on the outside.
Bringing Gibson back to St James’ Park would be a perfect opportunity for Bruce to bring about healthy competition among the central defenders. Schar, who is the top-scorer in the current Newcastle squad, has found the back of the net just once in 703 league minutes he has played so far.
He scored four goals and assisted another in the 2000 minutes he played for the Magpies last season. Schar is 27 and when a youngster comes in the team looking for a regular place, he will definitely push around him for better performances.
A similar dip in Lascelles’ form has become pretty apparent. Last season, he conceded 36 goals while he has already leaked 13 goals this season in just eight games.
The tally is worse when compared to the 2017-18 season, where he scored two goals and conceded just 31 goals in 2927 minutes – the most he has played in a season – with the Magpies.
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Gibson, who has been named in the senior squad this season but is yet to make a Premier League appearance, can also play at the left-back position which will also be an added advantage.
Newcastle will be free to contact him after the winter transfer window shuts, as he will enter into his last six months of contract with the Toffees.