Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
Blackburn Rovers, Watford, and Derby County are all trying to beat Middlesbrough to sign the Chelsea starlet, but Boro must win the race.
Middlesbrough are in a transitional period this summer after Boro appointed Rob Edwards to replace Michael Carrick ahead of the 2025/26 Championship campaign.
So far in the summer transfer window, the headlines at Boro have been dominated by potential outgoings over incomings, with Everton eyeing Hayden Hackney alongside several Premier League suitors.
Boro showed interest in Alfie Jones last week, with the Hull City defender poised to depart. However, reports have emerged that Wrexham hope to beat Boro for Jones.
In a separate transfer battle, Boro have longstanding interest in a “superb” Chelsea starlet, whose asking price has now been revealed.
Middlesbrough must pay Chelsea ‘around £5m’ to sign Alfie Gilchrist
With the summer transfer window in full swing, Boro desperately need to acquire some defensive reinforcements for Edwards.
Anfernee Dijksteel left Boro upon the expiry of his contract this summer, leaving Dijksteel as one of the best free agents in the Championship.
In further concern in the full-back department at the Riverside, EFL Analysis revealed earlier this summer that ageing right-back Luke Ayling could leave Middlesbrough this summer despite Dijksteel’s departure.
Given that both senior right-backs could depart Teesside this summer, Boro eyed Chelsea’s Alfie Gilchrist last month, after his impressive showing on loan at Sheffield United from Chelsea last season.
Unfortunately for Boro, they are not alone in their pursuit of Gilchrist, as Give Me Sport reporter Ben Jacobs revealed on X: “Derby, Watford, Middlesbrough and Blackburn have all enquired on Alfie Gilchrist this summer.
“Understand Chelsea looking for around £5m. No plans to sanction a loan as it stands.
He also added: “Saudi clubs have also made an approach with Gilchrist viewed as a strong profile fit by Saudi Pro League officials.”
Edwards’ style of play for Boro was questioned by one Championship expert, who raised concerns over whether his three-at-the-back formation would bode well for the current Boro squad.
Regardless of the formation Edwards utilises, it’s clear that Gilchrist would be an impressive coup, on the back of his “superb” showing in the second tier last term for the Blades.
‘Superb’ Alfie Gilchrist would be an impressive signing for Middlesbrough
In his first full campaign of senior football, Englishman Gilchrist shone for Sheffield United under former Boro boss Chris Wilder.
Via the Sheffield Star, Wilder said of Gilchrist: “Alfie’s attitude has been absolutely superb.
“He needed to come out of the team. It was a tough gig for him for maybe two or three games
“He’s a young player coming into Championship football and has played the majority of games.
| Key statistic | Alfie Gilchrist in 2024/25 |
| Games played | 32 |
| Goals + Assists | 2 |
| Pass accuracy | 82.2% |
| Duels won | 100 |
“He took that as I would have expected him to take it, in terms of the personality and the character of him and how he has been brought up.
“He was disappointed, but, we talked about it and he has adapted to that situation.”
Gilchrist’s loan stint would conclude in heartbreak after Sunderland beat Sheffield United in the play-off final, but the 21-year-old certainly gave an impressive account of himself throughout the season as evidenced by his 2024/25 metrics.
The Chelsea academy graduate has therefore proven his ability to operate capably at Championship level, with his versatility a major box ticked for Edwards.
With Gilchrist able to perform well as a central defender on the right side of a three, or as a more traditional full-back, coinciding with his limitless potential, it certainly justifies the £5m outlay that Boro must shell out to secure his highly-coveted services this summer.