It was Burnley who asked Middlesbrough if defender Ben Gibson could train with the Championship club, a report from the Teesside Gazzette has claimed.

Reports on Tuesday revealed that Burnley defender Gibson was once again training with his former club, something which the Premier League side confirmed with a statement of their own on Tuesday night, confirming the news that Gibson was indeed training with his former club again.

That statement from the Turf Moor club said: “Burnley Football Club can confirm they have given Ben Gibson permission to train with Middlesbrough Football Club. The defender made it clear, in the weeks leading up to the end of the January transfer window, that he wanted to leave Turf Moor to seek regular first-team football.

"Unfortunately for the player, the club did not receive an offer it felt was acceptable and he remains contracted to the club. The club will not be making any further comment on this matter.”

Now, it has been reported that the idea for Gibson to train with Middlesbrough again was Burnley's, with the latest update claiming that it was they who approached 'Boro about the possibility of Gibson training with the Championship outfit.

As things stand, it is thought that the arrangement is only for this week, but that there is the potential to extend that deal.

It is understood Gibson's return to 'Boro came about after flashpoint in training at Burnley, when the 27-year-old made his feelings about failing to secure a move in January known to manager Sean Dyche.

Gibson, who joined Burnley from 'Boro for a joint club-record fee of £15million in the summer of 2018, has made just seven appearances in all competitions for the Clarets since then.

Both Middlesbrough and Watford had been linked with a move for the defender in January, although no move materialised for the centre back.

There are two-and-a-half years remaining on Gibson's contract with Burnley, securing his future at the club until the end of the 2021/22 season.

The Verdict

This is an interesting one.

While he is still technically a Burnley player, it certainly looks as though it would be a big surprise if Gibson was to appear for the club again.

The fact that the Clarets themselves approached Middlesbrough about the move appears to indicate the damage done to his relationship with the club by the events of January, on top of the struggles for game-time he was experiencing even before that point.

It seems therefore as though this is a scenario 'Boro could look to exploit in the summer, but with his contract situation as it is at Burnley, and the Lancashire club seemingly determined to receive a decent fee for the centre back, that may still not be easy to do.