‘Morgan Gibbs-White not with Nottingham Forest squad in Portugal’
Morgan Gibbs-White has not joined his Nottingham Forest teammates on their pre-season tour of Portugal amid uncertainty around his future at the City Ground.
Gibbs-White was one of Forest’s best players last season as they did the improbable and competed for Champions League football throughout the campaign before eventually finishing seventh in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old has been the subject of serious transfer interest this summer as a result, and Tottenham were tipped to target a move for Gibbs-White last month despite rival interest from Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Spurs moved to activate Gibbs-White’s £60million release-clause on 10 July, but Forest took issue with their action and it was soon reported that the deal was off with the City Ground side set to consult their lawyers over an illegal approach from Tottenham for the England international.
Football Insider recently revealed that Gibbs-White has his heart set on joining Spurs, and there is a growing feeling that Forest’s protests are delaying an inevitable move with him now missing from their pre-season tour.
Gibbs-White has not travelled on Forest’s pre-season tour
The England international has continued to report for training at Forest amid uncertainty around his future and what will happen next regarding a move to Spurs, but with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side now jetting off to Portugal for a warm weather training camp, he has stayed at home.
The Mail’s Midlands football reporter, Tom Collomosse, has revealed that Gibbs-White has not travelled with his teammates due to a private matter, which is not transfer related, and he is expected to join the squad later this week.
It is currently unclear what issues the 25-year-old is facing away from football, but it is likely to put any transfer movements on hold for the time being.
Forest cannot afford to lose Gibbs-White
Football Insider verdict
Forest owner Marinakis is prepared to “lose significant sums of money” to defend his position that Tottenham made an alleged illegal approach for the England international, and it is no wonder, considering the position that they find themselves in after such a stellar campaign.
The Reds’ unexpected rise to the upper echelons of the Premier League last term came as a shock to many neutrals, but it also likely was a surprise for those high up at the club, who would not have expected to have to fend off such high-profile interest in their players this summer.
Nuno’s side is in danger of being picked apart with Gibbs-White potentially on his way out, after Forest sold Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £55m [BBC], while Football Insider recently revealed that key centre-back Murillo could be sold soon amid interest from Chelsea and Liverpool.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 118 | 18 | 28 |
With the East Midlands outfit now set to take part in the Europa League after Crystal Palace’s demotion, they need to keep the core of their squad at the club, and selling Gibbs-White is very clearly not on the agenda.
Sky Sports have claimed that Tottenham have no current plans to do anything else at this stage, but they haven’t yet given up in their attempts to sign him though, and a sale still seems likely after Football Insider’s recent revelation that he has his heart set on a move to North London.