Alex Gilbert has reportedly turned down a move to Wolves while leaving Premier League rivals Brentford for Championship outfit Middlesbrough.
As a Birmingham-born, West Brom academy graduate, Wolverhampton Wanderers appeared to have an advantage over the likes of Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest as they threw their hat into the ring for Gilbert’s signature recently.
According to the Daily Mail, Wolves were hoping to fight off competition for the 21-year-old and bring Gilbert back to the Midlands.
But the versatile attacker, who captained Brentford’s B team last season and also finished the campaign as their top scorer, eventually opted against following in the footsteps of another former Baggie in Craig Dawson, instead pursuing or a fresh start in the North East.
Alex Gilbert chooses Boro over Wolves
Speaking to the Middlesbrough website, Gilbert explains that the prospect of ‘first-team football’ in the Championship appealed more to him than a squad place in the division above.
“I’m delighted to be here,” explains the Republic of Ireland U21 international. “It is an unbelievable opportunity at an unbelievable club, and I’m excited to get going.
“ It was about midway though last season that I heard of the interest. I heard they were watching me at that point. They kept their eye on me throughout the rest of the season.
“When I was looking at what I wanted my next step to be, getting as much first-team football as I could was a big factor. Middlesbrough was a brilliant option.”
According to the Teesside Live, Gilbert ‘turned down’ Wolves before putting pen to paper with Boro. The prospect of working under one of Britain’s most highly-rated young coaches – Manchester United legend Michael Carrick – also played a big part in his decision.
“The manager (Carrick) Facetimed me, and explained then where he sees me playing; how I’ll fit in to how he wants the team to play,” Gilbert adds.
“And, I guess the main thing for me, how he’s going to help me develop into an even better player.
“It was a big positive and a real pull for me. You saw last season obviously they were struggling a bit at first. And then Michael came in and got them absolutely flying. It’s an unbelievable club, and I’m properly excited.”