Middlesbrough are believed to be interested in a move for Brentford striker starboy Alex Gilbert, according to a recent report from the Daily Mail.

He could be available for a fee as little as £1 million – if this is the case, he would be well within Middlesbrough’s transfer budget.

His contract is set to run out in the summer – nevertheless, due to his age, Brentford will be entitled to compensation if he pursues a move away from the club.

Who else, besides Middlesbrough, are interested in a move for Alex Gilbert?

Middlesbrough are not alone in their pursuit of Gilbert – Premier League clubs, such as Wolverhampton Wanderers and moneybags club Nottingham Forest are also thought to be in the mix.

As such, Boro are facing major competition for his signature. However, they may have a certain factor on their side – they may be able to offer Gilbert a regular spot in the first team, which is something that the other two clubs cannot.

This is especially true in Forest’s case – the bloatedness of their squad and flagrant spending in the transfer market has been well-documented over the past year.

What would Alex Gilbert add to the squad?

A high-scoring winger who can also function as a striker and as an attacking midfielder, Gilbert possesses a very wide skillset for such a young footballer.

Not only is he excellent at cutting inside and rattling off shots on goal, he also displays maturity and patience on the ball – he is adept at crafting chances for his teammates. Technically, his ability is well beyond his years.

Additionally, as captain of Brentford’s B team, Gilbert has also displayed impressive leadership skills over the course of his young career.

Gilbert went out on loan to Swindon Town in the 2021/22 season, but endured a tough time in Wiltshire – at that point, he was not ready for senior team football. Since then, he has made leaps and bounds in terms of his overall development as a player.

He has been capped by the Republic of Ireland at youth level, for their U19 and U21 squads – however, as he was born in Birmingham, he is also eligible for the England national team.