It had looked as if Morgan Gibbs-White was destined for a move to Tottenham Hotspur, with rumours that a medical had been planned ahead of completing his transfer from Nottingham Forest. However, that deal was quickly shelved after Forest accused Spurs of making an “illegal approach” to sign the midfielder.
Spurs reportedly made a £60million bid to sign Gibbs-White, which was said to have matched a release clause in his contract. But Forest, unhappy with the way their Premier League rivals went about things, lodged a complaint, leaving Gibbs-White’s future hanging in the balance.
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Gibbs-White was involved in Forest’s goalless draw against Ligue 1 side Monaco over the weekend, as speculation about where he will play his football next season continues to grow. But Gibbs-White hasn’t travelled alongside his team-mates for their pre-season training camp in Portugal, with the reason having since become clear.
It’s reported by The Telegraph that Gibbs-White isn’t involved in Forest’s initial squad because of a ‘personal matter’ unrelated to football. Instead, it’s suggested that the current plan is for Gibbs-White to join up with the rest of the Forest players later this week.
Gibbs-White was crucial to Forest last season, as they finished seventh in the Premier League and secured European football. It was initially meant to render qualification for the Conference League, but due to Crystal Palace’s multi-club ownership issue, the East Midlands outfit look likely to be bumped up to the Europa League.
Despite the unexpected boost, Gibbs-White is still being tipped to leave the club this summer. It’s suggested that earlier this year Forest had attempted to tie him down on a long-term contract, with Gibbs-White resisting the temptation.
The Daily Mail report that a second deal in the region of £65million is being considered by Spurs, as they look to secure the services of the England international this summer. Elsewhere, Forest might’ve already found their ideal replacement, with Manchester City’s James McAtee having been mooted.
Pep Guardiola deems the England youth ace surplus to requirements, with City hoping to bank a fee in the region of £35m for McAtee. Forest could face Premier League competition in the form of West Ham United, meanwhile, a move to the Bundesliga has also emerged as a possibility for McAtee.
The attacking midfielder is claimed to have travelled to Germany recently, meeting the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund and was impressed by what he saw. Clubs in the Premier League have until September 1 to conclude any business.