TWTD understands the Blues’ move for Everton central defender Lewis Gibson is well progressed and the 20-year-old looks set to become the seventh senior signing of the summer.

Earlier it was reported that Town were considering an approach for Gibson, however, we understand the deal is well down the line and not far from being concluded but with the clubs still discussing whether the switch will be a season-long loan or a permanent move. The 6ft 1in tall centre-half’s Toffees’ contract is up in the summer of 2022.

Gibson was previously a player on the Blues’ list of potential defensive targets in January 2020 when they ultimately signed Josh Earl on loan from Preston.

The former England U17, U18 and U20 cap was with Newcastle’s academy before moving on to Everton’s youth set-up in 2017 for an initial £1 million with the deal having potentially been worth an additional £5 million in further instalments to the Magpies.

However, Gibson was unable to break into the first team at Goodison Park, where he will have worked with new Town first-team coach Franny Jeffers, who was the Toffess' U23s coach until he joined the Blues in May.

Gibson spent time on loan at Fleetwood in the second half of 2019/20 and last season was with Reading, where he made seven starts and six sub appearances.

In 2017, he was a member of the England squad which won the U17 World Cup in India.

Gibson could face his older brother Liam on the opening day of the season with the left-back with Town’s first opponents of 2021/22 Morecambe.

Meanwhile, Crewe winger Owen Dale, who is understood to be interesting the Blues and a number of other clubs, admits he's flattered by all the interest.

“It's a compliment especially when people are saying there is some quite big teams interested, but I'm a Crewe player and I'll continue to work hard and do the best I can for this team,” he told the Alex's official website.

“I'm happy to be here and I am going to keep playing as hard as I can for this club.

“Until the gaffer comes to me and says we have accepted an offer it doesn't really matter.

“It’s just speculation and I am only focused on getting as fit and sharp as I can be for the start of the season.”

The Railwaymen have reportedly slapped a £1 million price-tag on the 22-year-old's head.

Photo: Action Images

Suffolkboy added 16:31 - Jul 2 Amazing !!
4

Mark added 16:32 - Jul 2 Hopefully a permanent deal, let's build a side for the Championship!
20

Bazza8564 added 16:36 - Jul 2 Young and well rated, if we can get him for a nominal fee and PC wants him, suggest a permanent deal would suit
15

markchips added 16:37 - Jul 2 Permanent deal makes sense as his deal at Everton runs out in a year's time anyway. Would be good cover for Penney and also if Cook goes three at the back in some games to allow KVY and Penney to roam.
6

Leeds_Blue added 16:55 - Jul 2 How far down the line are we talking? Announcement today or this weekend?
2

braveblue added 17:00 - Jul 2 How good is this team at getting things done!!!!
12

dirtydingusmagee added 17:02 - Jul 2 sounds like a promising player, obviously most will favour a perm move as opposed to a loan, but it would be a good signing either way .
10

BaddowBlue1 added 17:07 - Jul 2 Welcome news. Note we only get to hear about these deals as they are just crossing the line so well done Mr Ashton and Team.
7

Linkboy13 added 17:24 - Jul 2 Don't know nothing about him but i trust Cooks judgement. What happened to Josh Earl he was starting to look quite useful after a shaky start.
0

BlueySwede added 17:31 - Jul 2 Excellent! I am just hoping we are not going for too many loans, I really hope those days of developing other teams players are over. A couple of loans are fine, but with the new owners I hope it stays with that.
10

jas0999 added 17:34 - Jul 2 Hopefully a permanent deal as we continue to build a team. That said, if a loan , it would still be a good signing, but there after we shouldn't consider loan deals. A couple of loans is the maximum in my view.
7

BeattiesBackPocket added 17:35 - Jul 2 Hats off to Ashton if this goes over the line he's been very busy and it's refreshing to see targets identified and bought in quickly compared to the last 14 years. Still think we need an old head as well at the back in the mould of De Vos or Mowbray
4

Skip73 added 17:39 - Jul 2 Great prospect but he hasn't been in our academy for the last 10 years so he shouldn't be signed.
0

Linkboy13 added 17:51 - Jul 2 Don't know what other people think but i reckon it's important to have someone in the centre of defence with a bit of experience and wouldn't be surprised if Cook makes another signing in this respect. Also there's the captain's position to sort out. There doesn't seem to be much interest in Luke Wolfenden from other clubs. If he can sort his head and show a bit of maturity and show the form we saw a couple of years ago he should be outstanding in league one.

4

Monkey_Blue added 17:59 - Jul 2 No issues with him but also no idea if he's any good. I'd have preferred a more experienced CB to help woolfenden and Ndaba, but agree it's better he's permanent but as he's out of contract next summer and nowhere near the Everton first team a loan might make sense. Unless he's great and we might have to shell out a lot more. Is it 23 when you still have to pay compensation for a free or 22?

1

chepstowblue added 18:05 - Jul 2 I think we'll have to play a third centre half to make up for the errors that the other two are making! I know nothing about this lad....hopefully he's better than Pennington. Definitely need a wise old head at the back to gel it all together and to lead and organise. Regardless of numbers, the quality(or lack of)suggests that this is a problem area where we'll be found out.

0

markchips added 18:21 - Jul 2 Chepstow blue I tend to agree although woolfenden was involved with a fair few clean sheets towards the end of last season. It was the other end of the pitch where we had the problems which would be partially solved with the acquisition of crooks with his versatility in attacking roles
2

Monkey_Blue added 18:31 - Jul 2 markchips and yet chambers was slagged off religiously but not Norwood. Personally I'd have made Chambo player coach al la Mogga and got shot of Norwood who needs four chances to score 1 and thinks he's some kind of superstar.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:48 - Jul 2 Monkey blue you mean chambers who's now in league two? How do you think last seasons side was so good when we didn't even finish anywhere near the play offs either season with two different managers is beyond me
4

cornishblu added 18:53 - Jul 2 Norwood needing 4 chances to score 1 .....wasn't it Bobby Charlton that once said if you score 1 out of 10 you were doing great ? Am liking the transfers....we are only hearing this style of news when it's nearly done ....hopefully gone are the days of being linked to everyone but actually getting no one .....not being greedy but sone decent money spent on a forward seems still to be the missing link ...,esp if kaydon Jackson doesn't step up COYB

1

Oldboy added 18:56 - Jul 2 Make it permanent. We need to be building a squad for a few years and loans coming and going upsets the balance. Having said all that, I would rather it was a loan than not at all.
2

markchips added 19:40 - Jul 2 Monkey blue , you are probably right about Norwood but he will have to up his game with Bonne coming in and I expect there is another striker to come . It is his last season under contract so if he wants a crack at a higher level this is probably his last chance.
4

Portman_Pie added 19:52 - Jul 2 Personally not up for this one. I've agreed with most of the signings so far - but not really interested In an un-tested, un-proven addition to the Scouse necessity. Wolfenden plus one decent seasoned cb, and not scouse liability Nsiala please. Two young CB's didn't work last season. Despite the exodus - I'd prefer to persevere with Wolfenden but supplement him with a decent experienced CB.

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bluesteel added 19:58 - Jul 2 Why not just put in offer for the whole Rotherham squad?
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ringwoodblue added 20:13 - Jul 2 Hope we bring in Gibson on a permanent rather than a loan deal. As for Norwood, this will be the season he will shine for us as he will get much better supply from the guys behind him and he should be much fitter.
3

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