SEAN Dyche believes Ben Gibson is up for the challenge of forcing his way into the Burnley side after completing his move from Middlesbrough.

The 25-year-old is the first signing of the summer for Dyche and takes the number of senior centre backs at the club back up to four after the departure of Michael Keane a year ago.

With James Tarkowski and Ben Mee establishing a strong partnership last season and Kevin Long also waiting in the wings, Gibson will have to earn his spot in the side, despite arriving in a £15million deal.

Gibson came through the ranks at the Riverside Stadium but has now made his move away from his boyhood club, returning to the Premier League after signing a four-year deal with the Clarets.

"We’ve liked the player for a while and I think he wants the challenge of it," Dyche said of his new defender.

"He’s taken his own sacrifices to come here, he’s in a good place there, he’s well thought of, it’s not a comfort zone because Tony (Pulis) doesn’t allow comfort zones, but he’s familiar with what it is.

"Now it’s a new and a fresh challenge, but he’s definitely up for it. He knows we don’t do guarantees, he knows the challenge and he knows he’ll have to earn the right, but I think he’s up for that."

Burnley had a bid accepted for Gibson on Friday night and the player underwent a medical on Saturday before the deal was concluded on Sunday.

"It’s a deal we’ve been working on, refreshingly with a club who were very good to deal with, I spoke to Tony and it was all straight-forward," said Dyche.

"Once the numbers were agreed, it was a pretty simple deal, which is hard to come by now in this current market. So that was pleasing.

"And he’s a good player, someone we’ve liked for a while, the timing of when you have a chance to get these players, the demands of what’s coming for us, a player who, I think, wants that next challenge, of being in the Premier League currently.

“I’m sure the club he’s come from want to challenge to get in there, but we are currently there, and it’s a new start for him, someone who’s been at the club for a while.

"We think he’ll certainly add to the demand of the group, without a shadow of doubt, because he’s a leader type, someone who wants to take on a challenge, he looks ever so fit and ready to go."

Gibson was in the England squad in June 2017, although he didn't win a cap, but Dyche believes the new recruit will add to the demand in the squad.

"There were noises about him getting on the back of England call ups and things like that, and I think he’s got a good demand on himself, let alone what’s around him," the Clarets chief said.

“I think he’s a very demanding professional player, and we want to add to the demand we’ve got here, internally we have a demand, but it always freshens things up when new faces come in and everyone gets on their toes.

“And we’re working on more."

Joe Hart is set to be the next through the door, completing a £4million move from Manchester City on Monday.

But the Lancashire Telegraph understands an £8million deal for Swansea City man Sam Clucas is off.

Dyche wouldn't comment on either player, but added: "We hope it's going to be a busy few days. We’re certainly looking, we’re active, and if these deals can be done quickly and straight, and everyone agrees, it’s very helpful.

“If they can’t, we have to keep plugging away and hopefully get the situations open that we want to open."