CHRIS WILDER admits Middlesbrough’s interest in signing Jacob Greaves is now over – but insists the club have alternative options they are already pursuing.

And, with the transfer window continuing to hot up, the Boro boss has also admitted an interest in a potential loan deal for Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz.

Boro had a bid rejected for Greaves earlier this month, and while it was initially suggested that the centre-half was unwilling to extend his stay with Hull City, the situation changed on Thursday evening when he agreed a new four-year contract with the Tigers.

With Greaves tied down to the MKM Stadium, Boro’s recruitment team have been forced to look elsewhere, but Wilder is adamant it is not a case of starting from scratch as he looks to recruit a naturally left-footed centre-half.

Discussions with at least one alternative target have already taken place, with the Boro boss still confident there will be a breakthrough before the end of the transfer window.

“He’s committed his future to Hull,” said Wilder, who takes his side to Reading tomorrow still looking for a first win of the season. “We were open with our interest in the player.

“The decision has been made by the player. It was a positive offer from us, which was rejected. We’d usually try and keep that stuff private, but I think it was on their side from the off that it was out there.

“We made the offer for a good player in a position we’re looking to fill. But he’s signed a new deal, so we have to accept that.

“But listen, I think when you go in for players, there’s always two or three you’re looking at. You’re not just going straight out for one with nothing alongside it at all.

“The specific positions we want to strengthen, we have three or four targets for every one, and it’s possible to make bids for two or three players at one time, and see which one drops. That’s the way of the world and how football clubs work. We’re still confident that position gets filled with a really good player.”

Boro have been pursuing Muniz all summer, having initially missed on the striker 12 months ago when he opted to join Fulham instead of moving to the Riverside.

Wilder admits there is interest in the Brazilian, who is set to leave Fulham on loan after being unable to dislodge Aleksandar Mitrovic from Marco Silva’s preferred starting side.

“He’s a player that the club obviously have history with, having tried to sign him last year,” said the Boro boss. “He’s a talented player, but he’s just another one that’s on the list of players that we’ve talked about and other clubs have talked about too.”