TBR Football understands that Tottenham Hotspur needn’t worry about missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White because of another club hijacking the deal.
As TBR Football exclusively revealed, Gibbs-White wants to join Tottenham and has made that clear to Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
However, after Tottenham paid Gibbs-White’s release clause, Forest have become furious as they claim the £60m clause should not have been made known.
Marinakis is furious at the Gibbs-White situation, and as it stands, the move for the 25-year-old to join Spurs has been put on hold.
The North London club remain eager to sign the Forest captain, and will be growing tetchy in case another club attempts to swoop in amid the impasse.
Sources: Morgan Gibbs-White rebuffed Manchester City interest
Morgan Gibbs-White rebuffed interest from Manchester City and made it clear that he wants to join Tottenham Hotspur, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey can confirm.
The North London club managed to successfully pitch their project to the player, unlike City, whom he opted to turn down.
Gibbs-White returned to Forest training on Monday and does not want to sour his relationship with the club any further by going on strike.
For now, the England international has to sit tight and wait for the situation to get resolved, with the hope he can make the move to N17.
Speaking exclusively to TBR Football about whether another club could hijack Tottenham’s move, Bailey said: “No is the answer. He’s expressed his desire to go to Tottenham. There’s a reason that he’s already rebuffed interest from elsewhere, including Manchester City.
“Newcastle and Liverpool had looked at him briefly like they were aware of his situation, as all the big teams were completely aware of him, but he’s made it clear he wants to go to Tottenham.
When asked about why he might have rejected City, Bailey added: “He obviously views Tottenham as the better option. A lot is going on at City, a lot of ins and outs
“That’ll certainly come into his thinking. He needs to be playing every week at a top level. Is he going to do that at City? It’s a bit harder. Tottenham have sold him on the project, is my understanding.”
Morgan Gibbs-White could form brilliant partnership with Brennan Johnson
Gibbs-White could be reunited with his former Forest teammate Brennan Johnson if his move to Tottenham does eventually go through.
The attacking duo played a key role in helping the Midlands club to remain in the Premier League during their first season back in the top flight.
Gibbs-White claims his connection with Johnson is ‘good’, admitting: “We have a good relationship. I think it all started on the pitch, we built that connection, and it’s just followed off the pitch as well.”
Both players have also improved dramatically since then, with the Tottenham forward netting 18 goals last season and Forest’s captain managing ten assists in the Premier League.