Gibbs-White ‘flattered by Man City interest’ amid ‘real possibility’ of transfer
Nottingham Forest may be powerless to stop Morgan Gibbs-White’s “flattering” move to Manchester City this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Gibbs-White has emerged as one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders this season, and that’s the exact position Man City are expected to be in the market for in this summer’s transfer window.
Forest have slipped from third to sixth in the table after a loss of form in recent weeks, and sources have told Football Insider that failure to reach the Champions League may open the door for Gibbs-White’s departure.
The 25-year-old is Pep Guardiola’s preferred choice to succeed Kevin De Bruyne at City if they fail to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, and that level of interest has been “flattering” for Gibbs-White.
Football Insider sources have said the chance to play under Guardiola also appeals to Gibbs-White, but Forest still have a chance of Champions League football next term and won’t let him leave without a fight.
Nottingham Forest to ‘price Man City out of Gibbs-White move’
Gibbs-White’s individual performancein the FA Cup semi-final to Guardiola’s City side was seen as an audition in the eyes of some Forest fans, but any move for the Reds number 10 will come down to money.
Sources have told Football Insider that Forest will place a hefty price tag on Gibbs-White’s head in an attempt to deter interest, and force City to look elsewhere in their pursuit of De Bruyne’s replacement.
City’s former financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Forest’s valuation of their number 10 could be well over £100million, and it remains to be seen if City will want to pay such an ambitious fee.
Man City see Gibbs-White as centrepiece of summer rebuild
For all that Gibbs-White has emerged as a leader in Forest’s climb up the Premier League table and has captained the Reds on occasion, there’s little doubt that a move to City may be too good to turn down.
Guardiola’s overhaul of an aging squad at the Etihad Stadium began in January, and Gibbs-White could be joined by Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton in making a big-money move across the Premier League.
Too much change in one summer could damage City’s squad harmony, but with Guardiola expected to maintain a home-grown core of experienced players, the Blues are well-placed to add Gibbs-White and Wharton to the mix.