Ipswich Town are reportedly bracing themselves for a Manchester United raid for the highly talented 18-year-old Liam Gibbs midfielder.
According to a report from East Anglian Daily Times, Manchester United have expressed their desire to sign Liam Gibbs. The 18-year-old Ipswich Town youngster is highly regarded as one of the best players to come out of the academy in recent years and is tipped to leave the club in the summer.
Gibbs’ current contract at Ipswich expires at the end of the month. And even though the League One outfit are ready to offer him a new deal, a move away from the club appears to be on the cards. It has put Manchester United on red alert, although they are set to face stiff competition from newly-promoted Norwich City.
A central midfielder by trade, Gibbs has impressed with his excellent performances in the youth leagues. The 18-year-old made his Ipswich Town bow in the EFL Trophy in November 2019 while his debut in League One came at the end of last year when he started in the 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic.
Manchester United’s interest in Liam Gibbs is hardly surprising as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a keen admirer of young British talents. The latest rules imposed by the authorities following Brexit has also made it difficult for Premier League clubs to poach talents from abroad.
As a result, the majority of the English giants have stepped up their efforts to find native talents. Manchester United themselves are believed to in pole position to secure the services of Grimsby Town starlet Ben Grist, another prodigious midfielder from the lower leagues, who in high demand.
As far as Gibbs is concerned, he is yet to make his proper breakthrough in senior football. However, after making one appearance in League One, the youngster is expected to earn a prominent role in the first-team next season.
Manchester United, therefore, will be posed with two options, should they succeed in their pursuit of the Ipswich Town starlet. They can either loan the player back to Ipswich or accommodate him in their Elite Development Squad.
The Red Devils, however, might get distracted by the recent negotiations surrounding Jadon Sancho. The Borussia Dortmund star is tipped for a move to Old Trafford in the summer, and it will be interesting to see whether or not that will affect Manchester United’s pursuit of Gibbs.
Norwich City are already prepared to pounce on an opportunity to sign the Ipswich Town starlet, so it will be interesting to see how this transfer saga transpires this summer, as Manchester United prepare their move for the 18-year-old.
