According to Sky Sports, Aston Villa have made ‘an offer’ to loan Ben Gibson which will include a buying option. The Midlands outfit are desperate for another centre-back and are trying to capitalise on Gibson’s lack of appearances this season, but Burnley manager Sean Dyche has no intention of selling any players from his first-team.
The 26-year-old has made just five appearances in all competitions since joining the Clarets from Middlesbrough last summer. Gibson suffered from a hernia which kept him out of action for a number of months, but Dyche hasn’t given him many opportunities even when he’s been fit. His omission is all the more baffling when considering Burnley have conceded 43 goals in 23 games.
Villa have James Chester, Kortney Hause, Tommy Elphick and Axel Tuanzebe to choose from at centre-back, but Tuanzebe is still recovering from injury, Hause is a recent signing who needs time to find his feet and Chester has struggled for consistency and fitness. Elphick has looked fallible after returning from a loan spell at Hull City too.
Whether Dean Smith can sign Gibson before the January transfer window shuts remains to be seen, however. Burnley won’t want to lose a useful squad player with little time to identify a replacement.
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