Michael Carrick has made Middlesbrough’s stance on one player clear ahead of Deadline Day.
Middlesbrough are expected to have a fairly busy end to the 2024 summer transfer window.
Boro have already signed seven new players this month, with Neto Borges the latest addition to the first-team squad.
However, at least one more name may end up coming through the door at the Riverside Stadium ahead of the 11pm deadline on Friday.
With Rav van den Berg, Dael Fry and Darragah Leninhan all sidelined, Middlesbrough are in talks to sign a centre-back this week.
No specific names are currently being linked with the Teessiders but defensive reinforcements are now the priority for the North East outfit.
Elsewhere, Boro News understands Middlesbrough will not sell Anfernee Dijksteel this month despite the right-back being told at the start of the summer he was allowed to leave the club.
- READ MORE: TalkSPORT pundit gives verdict on Middlesbrough summer transfer window, more signings expected
Michael Carrick confirms player will stay at Middlesbrough
Now, Michael Carrick has confirmed Boro will be keeping hold of another star in the current transfer window.
Millwall are interested in Josh Coburn while it was reported earlier in August that Middlesbrough are considering loaning out Alex Gilbert.
However, the Teessiders have now changed their stance on the player, with the Boro boss confirming Gilbert is set to stay put, as per Teesside Live.
When asked about the future of the midfielder, Carrick offered a brief nine-word response.
He said: “He’s going to stay with us. He’ll be here.”
Why Middlesbrough are not letting Alex Gilbert leave
Gilbert only made 12 appearances during the 2023/24 Championship campaign but Carrick was still a fan, labelling him ‘terrific’ earlier this year, as per Teesside Live.
More recently, the attacking midfielder started in Middlesbrough’s 5-0 defeat to Stoke City on Tuesday evening.
The League Cup loss was humiliating for Boro but Gilbert was one of the very few bright sparks from the tie, earning praise from his manager post-match, as per Teesside Live.
Carrick said: “I’ll be honest, I thought throughout the team, especially first half, there was a lot of positives really. We had a lot of opportunities and created a lot of chances with Alex a big part of that. We could have created even more too.”
Gilbert’s display in midweek has seemingly done enough to ensure he is not moved on this summer and if he can match that performance going forward, it looks a wise choice.