‘Gibbs-White’s Nottingham Forest exit is off over illegal Tottenham move’
Morgan Gibbs-White’s move to Tottenham has been left in limbo as Nottingham Forest consider taking legal action this summer.
News emerged on Thursday, 10 July, that Tottenham had triggered a £60million release clause in the England international’s contract at the City Ground, but the move is not as simple as first appeared.
The 25-year-old has attracted plenty of attention since his £42million move from Wolves in 2022 [Sky Sports], making over a century of appearances for the Reds, notching 18 goals and 26 assists in that time.
Football Insider understood that Man City had agreed terms for Gibbs-White’s signature, but it quickly became apparent that Spurs were stealing ahead in the race for the transfer.
Now, the 25-year-old could be stuck at the City Ground for the next few weeks as Forest, and likely Evangelos Marinakis, take issue with the Lilywhites’ actions over the last 24 hours in the summer transfer market.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s Tottenham in limbo
Taking to X (11 July), Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett wrote: “I’m told Nottingham Forest consider the deal to take Gibbs-White to Tottenham is currently off – Forest are consulting their lawyers over what they believe is an illegal approach.
“They never gave permission for talks and have cut all communication with Spurs. It is unlikely that they can block it, but it definitely delays it.”
Multiple clubs have been paying attention to the player’s current situation, and those same clubs may now be keeping one eye on proceedings after the latest bombshell update.
Nottingham Forest furious with Thomas Frank’s Tottenham
Football Insider verdict
Forest will be desperately clinging on to Gibbs-White at the City Ground, with several high-profile clubs wanting to sign him, but a transfer saga is the last thing the club needed this summer.
Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Tottenham are likely to spend up to £200million over the coming weeks, so money is clearly not an issue when it comes to signing one of the Reds’ greatest-ever players.
While Anthony Elanga was a huge player for the team last season, they could have coped with losing just him for £55m [The Telegraph], but losing Gibbs-White as well would be a huge blow.
The Reds secured European football for the first time in 30 years, and many supporters expected the manager to strengthen his squad, but the complete opposite appears to be happening.
Football Insider understands that Forest have opened talks to sign Johan Bakayoko, which would be an ideal replacement for Elanga, but their transfer plans are likely to take a hit now.
The updates would suggest that Gibbs-White is in favour of a move away from the City Ground this season, even if a transfer to Spurs falls through, so this is unlikely to be the last news surrounding the player.