Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest.
Telegraph reporter John Percy has revealed that Spurs are willing to activate Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause.
So, that will force Nottingham Forest into the market for a replacement and they have been doing their due diligence on a number of potential successors.
From an Everton perspective, this impending transfer isn’t great news at all, as it means they’re about to face serious competition for a playmaker they’re already in talks to sign.
Nottingham Forest expected to turn to Everton target James McAtee to replace Morgan Gibbs-White
Everton are in talks to sign James McAtee from Manchester City, and Pep Guardiola is willing to sanction his sale for around £25m.
David Moyes wants to add more creativity to his side and has clearly earmarked McAtee as his preferred target.
However, Nottingham Forest are now expected to join the race for McAtee as they search for a Gibbs-White replacement.
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When Gibbs-White was being mooted to join City earlier in the window, it emerged that McAtee was viewed as his successor.
So, unfortunately for Moyes and his chiefs, their main target will likely be subjected to an approach from the Forest, who can boast European football.
Everton will have to have a strong pitch to convince McAtee to join
Indeed, Everton can’t match what Forest can offer in European football, with it looking likely to be the Europa League if Crystal Palace are demoted due to muliti-club ownership issues.
However, the new state-of-the-art 52,000-seater stadium paired with the Friedkin Group’s lofty ambitions is certainly a temping project to be part of.
Plus, McAtee is actually the great nephew of Alan Ball, who is an Everton legend, so that connection may be a convincing factor.
Thierno Barry’s arrival from Villarreal already shows great ambition and Everton are also looking at Douglas Luiz, so McAtee may favour a move to Merseyside.
A telling month awaits.