I think if we didn't rate him they wouldn't have been so adament in him signing a deal. Regardless of we wanted to make a profit, Gibson was in the driving seat and could have just sat out the remaining 6 months of his deal and got a nice tidy signing on fee in the summer.
That makes me think
A) they want to keep him
B) he signed because he's been given a pathway
I would have thought Ancelotti has taken a look at him, liked the looks of what he's seen and asked Brands to loan him put pronto.
As I said, I csn only go on what I've seen of him. And I've watched a fair few u23 matches and when he's playing he's streets ahead of the rest.
My assumption would be Gibson brought into the 1st team squad and Branthwaite is his u23 replacement.
Just my opinion though mate so don't hold me to the above