MIDDLESBROUGH have been linked with a summer move for Ben Gibson, but the Teessider is adamant he does not want to leave the Premier League.

Gibson has struggled to make an impact since joining Burnley from Middlesbrough last summer, making just one league start for Sean Dyche’s side in the whole of last season.

Burnley are reportedly willing to listen to offers for his services, with Boro having been linked with a possible attempt to re-sign the centre-half.

Jonathan Woodgate worked with Gibson during the pair’s time together at Rockliffe Park, and is known to be a big fan of his fellow boyhood Boro fan.

Steve Gibson would be willing to re-sign his nephew, who has also been linked with Sheffield Wednesday, but there is little chance of a deal happening this summer.

While Gibson is understandably disappointed at his lack of game time last season, he is determined to fight for his place in the Burnley side.

If a situation develops where he has to move on, he will be determined to remain in the top-flight rather than take a step down to the Championship.

Aston Villa looked into signing the 26-year-old in January, and could opt to make another approach following their promotion via the Championship play-offs.

Woodgate is busy finalising his summer plans ahead of his Middlesbrough players’ return for the start of pre-season training at the start of next month.

The new Boro head coach was in Italy last week watching England Under-21s lose to Romania in the European Under-21 Championships.

His presence in Cesena sparked a large amount of speculation about potential targets, with Boro not having a player in England’s Under-21 squad. Dael Fry had been due to take part in the tournament, but was excluded from Aidy Boothroyd’s squad after suffering a hamstring injury in the second half of last season.

Woodgate spoke of the importance of the loan market during his introductory press conference at Rockliffe Park, and a number of the England youngsters that played on Friday after expected to make loan moves into the Championship this summer.

The likes of Fikayo Tomori, Jake Clarke-Salter and Jay DaSilva could all spend next season on loan from their parent clubs, with Boro set to be one of the clubs hoping to make good use of the market.

Last season, Tomori, Mason Mount and Harry Wilson were key members of the Derby County side that made the play-off final, with Frank Lampard’s contacts book proving especially useful.

Woodgate and his assistant, Robbie Keane, boast long-standing relationships with a number of Premier League clubs, and the pair will be hoping to utilise their links over the next few weeks as they attempt to strengthen Boro’s squad ahead of August’s Championship opener at Luton Town.