While Nottingham Forest are trying their best to halt Morgan Gibbs-White’s switch to Tottenham, the midfielder has made it clear to the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, that he wants to complete a move to N17.
Tottenham activated Morgan Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause last week and the midfielder was due for a medical at Hotspur Way last Friday, but the deal has been held up.
This is because Nottingham Forest have officially filed a legal complaint against Spurs for approaching the midfielder without their permission.
The Midlands club are questioning how Tottenham Hotspur found out about the 25-year-old’s release clause when they had not authorised them to speak to the player or his agent.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s Tottenham message has angered Evangelos Marinakis
Gibbs-White has begun pre-season training with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side but a new report has suggested that the player has made it clear that he wants to leave the City Ground.
This update comes from TBR Football, who say that despite reporting to training, the England international has informed Marinakis that he wants to move to Spurs.
The attacking midfielder is said to be keen on playing under new Spurs boss Thomas Frank and to get a taste of Champions League football.
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That is thought to be part of the reason Marinakis is angry, as he is annoyed that the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich didn’t make a move for Gibbs-White.
However, the outlet confirms that Tottenham remain confident that a deal will be done as they think that there is nothing Forest can do to stop the transfer when the release clause has been activated and the player wants the move.
Are Nottingham Forest merely trying to send a message to their fans?
It was reported by The Athletic over the weekend that Forest do not expect their legal challenge to stop Gibbs-White’s move to Spurs.
They are aware that at best, it may just delay the move, but they want to send a message that they will now allow their best player to leave the club without a fight.
Their decision makes sense in light of the fact that Forest fans were raging when it emerged that Morgan Gibbs-White was on his way to Tottenham.
Marinakis may simply be attempting to subdue the fan anger by showing them that he did all he could to stop the transfer.