Nottingham Forest-linked Alex Gilbert looks set to seal a move to Championship side Middlesbrough.
The Reds were said to be keen on the Brentford youngster, who captained the Bees’ B team last season and was named their player of the year. Wolverhampton Wanderers were also credited with an interest in the forward, while teams abroad were apparently eyeing him up, too.
However, our colleagues at TeessideLive report Boro are close to agreeing a deal for the 21-year-old. It seems he has opted for a switch to the Riverside Stadium - despite both Forest and Wolves being closer to his native Midlands home - as it is seen as holding a greater chance of quickly securing first-team football.
Gilbert turned down the offer of a new contract at Brentford. However, compensation will be due to his old club as the player is under the age of 24 and was offered fresh terms. According to the Daily Mail, a fee of £600,000, potentially rising to £1 million, has been agreed.
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The Reds are yet to bring in their first new addition of the summer, although striker Chris Wood’s loan from Newcastle United has been converted into a permanent move as an obligation-to-buy clause was triggered. Strengthening their attacking ranks further will be on the club’s to-do list.
They are also likely to lose some players in that department as they look to trim numbers. Both Emmanuel Dennis and Sam Surridge have been linked with moves away.
Overseeing departures is just as much of a focus for Forest as signing the right players. In what is a key transfer window as the Reds try to push on in the Premier League, they need to make sure head coach Steve Cooper is left with sufficient strength in depth once the September 1 deadline has passed.
Other than those players released at the end of their contracts, the club are yet to sanction any significant exits. Several fringe players are likely to move on, however, with transfer activity expected to ramp up in the coming weeks.
