Vitor Pereira must use Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest to prepare for inevitable Morgan Gibbs-White exit
Vitor Pereira could be without Morgan Gibbs-White as Nottingham Forest prepare for a European clash against Aston Villa.
Forest are just one step away from the Europa League final, having claimed a 1-0 win at the City Ground on Thursday, 30 April, thanks to a Chris Wood penalty in the 71st minute.
Of course, Pereira’s side will have to claim a result at Villa Park on Thursday, 7 May, which won’t be an easy task, with Braga or Freiburg waiting for them in the final in Turkey.
Gibbs-White could have used it as a transfer audition ahead of the summer transfer window, but now there is no certainty that the playmaker will be available due to a horrific injury.
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VISIT THE FOREST TRANSFER HUBMorgan Gibbs-White could be injured for Aston Villa clash
The 26-year-old was subbed on at half-time of the Reds’ incredible 3-1 win over Chelsea on Monday, 4 May, grabbing an assist for Taiwo Awoniyi within seven minutes of entering the pitch.
However, in the 66th minute, Gibbs-White was forced off following a clash of heads with Robert Sanchez, with the player sharing an image after the game of stitches down the centre of his face.
It was a rather gruesome injury, one which could rule him out of the Europa League semi-final second leg, but that could be the perfect opportunity for the manager to plan for life without him.
| England’s playmakers | Goals | Assists |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | 16 | 7 |
| Cole Palmer | 13 | 5 |
| Morgan Rogers | 12 | 8 |
| Jude Bellingham | 7 | 6 |
| Phil Foden | 13 | 6 |
The England international was highly sought after during the previous summer transfer window. With 16 goals and seven assists to his name this term, that interest is only going to mount up.
Gibbs-Whites’ future remains uncertain at Nottingham Forest
Despite putting pen to paper on a new deal until 2030, standing next to the ominous Evangelos Marinakis in the announcement video, supporters are concerned that this could be his final season at the City Ground.
Forest have no plans to sell Gibbs-White. That stance is totally understandable. But should big-name clubs come knocking for his signature, his head could quickly be turned.
Even with an outrageous season in terms of goal contributions, there is still every chance that he could be overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for the 2026 World Cup England squad.
And he won’t want to be fighting relegation next season. His talents deserve to be respected, and he may feel that had he left ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, he would be one of the first names on the plane this summer.
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