STEVE AGNEW insists it is not a foregone conclusion that Ben Gibson will leave Middlesbrough this summer, despite some of the country’s leading clubs preparing offers for the centre-half.

With Boro’s relegation having been confirmed when they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on Monday, speculation about who could be set to leave the Riverside has intensified in the last few days.

Calum Chambers and Alvaro Negredo will definitely be leaving when their current loan deals expire, and Victor Valdes is also expected to depart rather than spend the next 12 months in the Championship.

It is widely predicted that Gibson will also be heading through the exit door, with Chelsea and Manchester City both long-standing admirers of the 24-year-old, who recently received his first call-up to the senior England squad.

Boro could expect to receive up to £30m for Gibson, who is the nephew of Boro chairman, Steve, but the defender’s strong Teesside roots and deep-rooted attachment to his hometown club will make it difficult for him to sever his ties.

Gibson was the first Boro player to speak publicly in the wake of Monday’s defeat at Stamford Bridge, and his emotional reaction spoke volumes for the depth of feeling that bonds him to his current employers.

Within the Boro hierarchy, there is a strong determination to keep Gibson on Teesside if at all possible. The centre-half has been the club’s most consistently impressive performer this season, and his leadership qualities and extensive experience of the Championship would make him a hugely valuable asset next season.

In terms of his career progression, remaining in the Premier League would undoubtedly enhance his prospects of forcing his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for next summer’s World Cup in Russia. However, that will not be the only consideration in his decision, and emotional factors will also hold a powerful sway.

“I don’t think it is inevitable (that Gibson will leave),” said Agnew, who will lead Boro into their penultimate game of the season when they host Southampton this afternoon. “Ben has signed a new five-year contract during the season, and he has had an amazing season.

“Ben has shown that he is a consistent Premier League player this season, but he is one of the group and is determined to stay with it and see Boro back in the Premier League. That is the way I hope he goes.”

Gibson’s performances have provided some rare highlights this season, with the defender’s poise and assurance standing out despite his side’s struggles in the bottom half of the table.

While Boro have been relegated with two games still to play, they have conceded fewer goals than any other team in the bottom half of the table. They have only conceded six more goals than fifth-placed Arsenal, and Gibson’s performances have been a key part of their defensive strength.

Their problems have come at the other end of the field, where their tally of 26 goals from 36 games is the worst in the top-flight.

Aitor Karanka’s conservative tactics were undoubtedly a factor in that, but Boro’s attacking players have consistently underperformed and that is something that will have to be addressed in the summer, particularly with their leading scorer, Negredo, set to leave.

Agnew accepts there have been serious failings this season, but has nevertheless praised his players for their efforts over the course of the campaign.

“Look, the players have been terrific,” he said. “We have pulled up short, and we know why. We have not won enough games or scored enough goals, but the reaction and response for everything I have asked them to do, they have been top class.

“All we need to do now is finish it off (this afternoon) with a top performance in front of these supporters.”

Agnew is still to decide what will happen after this afternoon’s final whistle. It is customary for a team to acknowledge the fans in the wake of their final home fixture, but a ‘lap of honour’ hardly feels appropriate given Boro’s position in the bottom three.

The mood at the Riverside is likely to be a mixture of disappointment and defiance, but Agnew is hoping his side’s performance will at least give the home fans something to smile about as they head into the summer.

“I think the performance has to be appreciative of the support, and I will be making sure the message to the players is very much that,” he said. “If we can do that, then I think there has to be a gesture made because the supporters deserve all the plaudits for how much they have supported the team during the season.”