Middlesbrough are close to signing Brentford striker Alex Gilbert after he held talks with Nottingham Forest and Wolves. The talented striker is nearing a move to the Riverside Stadium and is turning his back on a Premier League move.
According to The Northern Echo, Boro are now expected to conclude this deal. It’s thought that it will cost around £1 million to sign the player who has been performing for the Brentford B outfit since he signed for the club.
Gilbert scored 16 goals as Brentford’s young guns won the Premier League Cup last season. He was born in Birmingham and is seeking a move in search of regular first-team action.
The 21-year-old has made two appearances for the Bees’ first team. Interestingly, one of those came against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round back in 2021.
Recently he rejected Brentford’s offer of another contract in West London. That prompted talks with Forest and Wolves; although he looks to have been bowled over by Boro’s offer.
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The Championship outfit reached the play-offs under Michael Carrick last season. They will be among the favourites for promotion in the second tier during 2023/24 and Gilbert clearly fancies some of that.
Middlesbrough close to signing Gilbert after Forest talks
It seems crystal clear why the young striker has chosen not to sign for Wolves or Forest. Clearly, the Premier League duo would have made him play in the under-21s first with one eye on the future.
Boro will have other plans, however. They will fast-track him into their senior squad and Carrick utilised several young players during last season and it’s clearly a strategy that he will adopt.
Forest will hope for better luck with their other striker targets. After Taiwo Awoniyi there wasn’t much in the way of support from the club’s other strikers last season and Steve Cooper will want to address that.
Gilbert looks like another one to scrub off the list. Now, Forest – and Wolves – will monitor his progress at Boro with intrigue after missing out on his signature.