Everton have offered a new contract to Bristol Rovers loanee Lewis Gibson with Joey Barton keen on bringing the centre-back back to the Mem on a permanent deal.
Gibson enjoyed a fine season on loan at the Gas, making 32 appearances and was runner-up to Aaron Collins as the club's Player of the Season. Rovers were notably a better side with the left-footed defender as their win percentage with him in the team was 50 per cent, compared to 13 per cent when he was absent.
Barton had been candid in admitting he’d love to bring Gibson back to BS7 as his contract at Everton is due to expire at the end of the month but the Toffees published their retained list on Friday, confirming he’s among those to be offered a new deal.
“We have offered new contracts to players and we will continue talking with them as we look to build a competitive squad for Sean Dyche and his staff for the new season,” said Everton Director of Football Kevin Thelwell.
Whether or not Gibson signs it is unclear having been unable to make a first-team breakthrough at Goodison Park after signing from Newcastle United in 2017, but he is understood to have admirers across the Championship and League One.
Rovers won’t have completely given up on plans to bring him back to the Mem but the picture looks more complicated than it did previously to Everton's announcement, given a Premier League club are not, in effect, competitors for his signature.
The Gas could be well-placed for a repeat loan signing with Gibson having made more than 30 league appearances for the first time in his career on Barton’s watch and Everton may consider another solid season of first-team football would be preferential for his development.
The other side of the argument is that Sean Dyche is yet to fully assess the defender’s capabilities, having only joined the Toffees in January, with Barton admitting he’d pass on a glowing review of the 22-year-old to his former Burnley manager and he could be given a chance in pre-season.
That would prove a familiar story for Barton and Rovers who were kept waiting last summer as they looked to bring back Connor Taylor and/or Elliot Anderson from Stoke City and Newcastle United, respectively, only for their parent clubs to eventually hold onto them.
Everton’s offer of a new deal to Gibson also means that any club who is successful in tempting him away from Merseyside on a free transfer would be eligible to pay compensation, which could be considerable and potentially the main driver behind their decision to present a fresh agreement.
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