---
title: "Burnley: Dael Fry could be targeted in potential swap deal involving Ben Gibson"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/burnley-dael-fry-ben-gibson-swap-deal-transfer-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Burnley"
published: "2020-07-08T19:20:16Z"
modified: "2020-07-08T19:20:16Z"
---

# Burnley: Dael Fry could be targeted in potential swap deal involving Ben Gibson

**Burnley could make a move for Middlesbrough defender Dael Fry this summer in a potential swap deal involving Ben Gibson.**

[Burnley Express](https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/football/joint-record-signing-ben-gibson-wont-be-recalled-amid-injury-crisis-burnley-boss-sean-dyche-2906281) claimed that the Clarets are considering the possibility of a transfer exchange between the two clubs which would see the 22-year-old come to Turf Moor and their £15m signing return to Teesside. However, any such deal could rest on whether relegation-threatened ‘Boro avoid the drop to League One.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

As reported by the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8494745/Burnley-decide-not-recall-record-signing-Ben-Gibson-despite-defensive-injury-crisis.html), Burnley will not recall Gibson from exile despite Ben Mee’s injury leaving them with a sparsity of centre-back cover, with the ex-Middlesbrough defender training at his former club in recent months following disagreements with some staff at Turf Moor.

The [£15m acquisition](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45076206) from ‘Boro has made only [six appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-gibson/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/128904/verein/1132) since joining the Clarets in 2018, with seemingly little sign of him ever resuscitating his Burnley career.

Fry, by contrast, has performed impressively at the Riverside Stadium this season, making [31 Championship starts](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dael-fry/leistungsdaten/spieler/314140) for Middlesbrough. He has won 4.4 aerial duels and made 5.2 clearances per game this season, while also boasting a solid passing success rate of 77.3% (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/288989/Show/Dael-Fry)).

By way of comparison, Burnley skipper Mee has averaged 4.1 headers per game and has a passing accuracy of 71.4%, while [ever-present](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/james-tarkowski/leistungsdaten/spieler/173504) centre-back James Tarkowski has won 5.3 headers per game but completed just 70.1% of his passes (via [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/184/Show/England-Burnley)).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Until Mee’s recent injury, he had [started every Premier League game this season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-mee/leistungsdaten/spieler/74810) alongside Tarkowski, illustrating how difficult it can be for [other centre-backs to get a look-in](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-burnley/leistungsdaten/verein/1132) at Burnley.

\[freshpress-poll id=”308465″\]

However, Fry’s aerial strength and his superior composure in possession should make him a worthy transfer target for the Clarets and could even see him challenge for a first team place at Turf Moor. Even if Middlesbrough are unwilling or unable to take Gibson back, the Lancashire side should strongly consider making a move for the 22-year-old ‘Boro defender.

***Burnley fans, would you be in favour of a potential swap deal between Fry and Gibson? Have your say by commenting below!***