Credit: Imago

Chris Smith

Tue 22 July 2025 17:02, UK

Tottenham Hotspur’s chances of landing Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White have been dealt a major blow following the latest update.

Gibbs-White excelled last season, registering seven goals and 10 assists in 34 Premier League appearances to help the Tricky Trees qualify for the Uefa Conference League.

That form has helped the 25-year-old break into the England national team set-up, picking up four caps since September 2024.

However, it has also brought links with a move away from the City Ground, with Manchester City initially interested before Tottenham pushed into the lead.

Nottingham Forest owner looking to crush Spurs’ Gibbs-White deal

Spurs looked on the verge of completing a deal for Gibbs-White before negotiations started to break down.

The Lilywhites moved to activate the player’s £60million release clause on 10 July, while he has not gone with the Forest squad on their pre-season tour of Portugal amid uncertainty over his future.

But Forest lodged a legal complaint over the swoop, leaving it in danger of falling apart completely.

Now, Tottenham have been dealt a hammer blow in their pursuit by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

According to talkSPORT (22 July), Gibbs-White told Marinakis toward the end of last season that he would only leave Forest for a ‘certain level of club’.

It’s thought Marinakis does not regard Tottenham as part of that category — despite their Europa League win last season — which explains his anger over the potential transfer.

While there is still belief that Spurs can resurrect the deal, it’s understood Marinakis is hoping for Man City to come in with a rival bid for his star player.

Man City sale the ideal solution for Nottingham Forest and Gibbs-White

Football Insider verdict

Given Tottenham are the Europa League holders and will play in the Champions League next season, it is perhaps harsh of Marinakis to debase them in this way. Even if they did finish 17th in the Premier League last season.

However, there may be another method to the Forest owner’s madness.

After all, Man City youngster James McAtee has emerged as a big target for the Midlands club in recent weeks.

McAtee is a product of City’s youth system and impressed in limited opportunities last season, registering seven goals in 27 appearances across all competitions — despite only seeing 342 minutes of Premier League action.

At 22 years old, it’s time for McAtee to find a club where he can become a regular starter, perhaps fully showing his talent to earn a place of his own in the England squad.

Forest allowing Gibbs-White to move to City would give them a much better standing with Pep Guardiola and the sky blue hierarchy in their bid to sign McAtee.

Gibbs-White, McAtee, Man City and Nottingham Forest would all be happy, leaving Spurs as the only real losers.