Tottenham Hotspur may still have major bits of transfer business yet to come this summer
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Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur are now in the midst of a new era beginning under Thomas Frank, with transfer business a key part of his first summer at the club.
The former Brentford manager must turn around the fortunes of a squad who were accustomed to losing Premier League matches last season, in an increasingly competitive top flight which has recently welcomed the likes of Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa and Newcastle United as new European challengers.
Taking key players off so-called ‘smaller’ rival clubs in the Premier League is a key way for Spurs to bridge that gap, a process they already began when completing the £55m transfer of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United. Frank rapidly set his sights on another Premier League star and almost had his man the very same day, before disaster struck and the deal was feared to be off completely.
Morgan Gibbs-White deal could still be on for Spurs
The player in question is, of course, Morgan Gibbs-White, who was set to complete a medical at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the Lilywhites activated his £60m release clause. Nottingham Forest hit back, though, claiming that Spurs had made ‘illegal contact’ with the player, and so the move was supposedly off. Spurs may need to consider other options as a result.
But, according to reports by Football Insider, a move for Gibbs-White to Spurs is still expected to happen, though it may take a little longer than planned. The report claims that sources say there is “no going back” on the transfer and that the player’s “heart is set on a move to Spurs”, with an agreement between Forest and Spurs still believed to be reached eventually.
The 25-year-old England international has had to return to pre-season training with Forest in recent days, but still intends to follow former teammate Anthony Elanga out the exit door. Gibbs-White will feel he has earned a move to one of the traditional ‘big-six’ clubs with the class and consistency he has shown at Forest, while his release clause was met - though the two clubs will need to iron out a few issues before a deal can move forward.
Gibbs-White ‘keeping it professional’ - Ola Aina
Nottingham Forest teammate Ola Aina spoke to Sky Sports about Gibbs-White’s current situation following Forest’s 0-0 draw with Monaco in a pre-season friendly, where Gibbs-White started.
Nigeria international Aina said: "Morgan is a professional. I don't really know the ins and outs of that, but he was here today, he was playing, training with us, staying fit as normal. At the end of the day we're all professionals. We've got a job to do and that's what Morgan's doing right now, keeping it professional."
Should Gibbs-White arrive at Spurs, he would be in stiff competition for a starting role in the creative midfield spots alongside the likes of Kudus, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski - good problems for Frank to have as he prepares his new side to battle on all fronts. It will be no easy task to take forward the work started by Ange Postecoglou and lead Spurs on to further trophy success, but Frank is attempting to take the right steps towards building a squad capable of doing it.