Alex Gilbert has turned down a new contract at Brentford and Premier League rivals Wolves could take advantage by signing the Bees starlet for a bargain fee this summer.
Capped six times by the Republic of Ireland at U21 level, Gilbert was named Brentford B’s Player of the Year for 2022/23. And with good reason.
No one scored more goals than him; the talented attacker a constant menace for opposition defences whether lining up wide on the left or in a more central role.
And Gilbert’s fine form, the Daily Mail say, caught the eye of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough. Wolves may have an advantage over their rival suitors, too.
Gilbert, once of West Brom’s academy, is Birmingham-born. He may relish a return to the Midlands after three years in London.
The Mail adds that Gilbert has turned down a new contract at Brentford. His current deal expires on Saturday.
Wolves could take advantage if Brentford lose Alex Gilbert
Wolves would not be able to snatch the 21-year-old for free – a compensation fee in the region of £1 million may be required – but Gilbert is certainly worth a punt, even if – with his 22nd birthday approaching – some may wonder why he is yet to break into the senior set-up at club level.
“I’ve grown physically and mentally,” Gilbert told the Bees website in 2022 after returning from a loan spell at Swindon Town.
He currently captains Brentford’s B-team. Gilbert views himself as a player capable of letting his actions and his football do the talking.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a skipper who screams at people,” Gilbert adds. “I like to think that I lead by example. And I like to be well respected by the team around me. Hopefully they look up to me on match days to help them out and perform.”
It is not certain whether Wolves see Gilbert as a player capable of contributing to Julen Lopetegui’s first-team, or whether he would have to be content with U23 football initially at Molineux.