Middlesbrough will fend off interest for Ben Gibson in January

Middlesbrough are determined to rebuff offers for emerging centre-back Ben Gibson in the January transfer window.

But the club know they’ll find it much harder to prevent the England hopeful from leaving at the end of the season.

Gibson is attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs following a string of impressive displays on his first season in the top-flight.

Middlesbrough are set to reject bids for Ben Gibson in the January transfer windowChelsea and Everton are among the clubs to have scouted the 23-year-old intensively this season.

But Boro chairman Steve Gibson - also the defender’s uncle - is prepared to reject offers for his nephew when the transfer window re-opens next…