As many as five Big Six clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, are said to be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding Nottingham Forest‘s Morgan Gibbs-White.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side remain one of the favourites to secure Champions League football next season thanks to a momentous 1-0 win over Manchester City last weekend, which saw them cement their third-placed ranking in the table.
Forest are only four points below second-placed Arsenal thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi‘s winner against the champions, which was set up by the ever-influential stand-in captain Gibbs-White.
The 25-year-old was controversially not called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel on Friday, but he has been a key cog in this Forest system with five goals and six assists from 24 Premier League games this season.
Gibbs-White remained at the City Ground last summer despite interest from elsewhere, but he has not signed a single contract extension with Forest and is due to become a free agent in 2027.
Forest set Gibbs-White asking price amid transfer speculation?
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According to CaughtOffside, all of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and recent victims Man City could do battle for Gibbs-White’s services when the summer transfer window rolls around.
While Forest are apparently determined to start contract negotiations with the Englishman’s camp at the earliest available opportunity, the Tricky Trees have slapped a price tag on his head should he wish to depart.
The report adds that a fee of €60m (£50.5m) will be required to prise Gibbs-White away from the City Ground, although Forest still do not want to sell the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man if they can avoid doing so.
Nevertheless, a £50.5m package would represent a significant profit on the £24.8m that Forest paid Wolves for Gibbs-White’s signature in 2022, since when he has contributed 16 goals and 24 assists in 106 matches for the club.
The 25-year-old has often worn the captain’s armband whenever Ryan Yates has been missing from the starting XI, and he is expected to do so again when the Tricky Trees meet Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Where would Gibbs-White fit in best?
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The Arsenal transfer talk has naturally been dominated by the Gunners’ need for a new striker, which is apparent, but it has also been suggested that Mikel Arteta could benefit from another attacking midfield option.
Captain Martin Odegaard has struggled to have the same impact with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz out of the side, although Gibbs-White should still not expect to be an undisputed starter in North London.
The Englishman would also have to fight to displace Dominik Szoboszlai at Liverpool, James Maddison at Tottenham Hotspur and Omar Marmoush at Manchester City, although joining the latter could soften the blow of Kevin De Bruyne‘s expected exit.
However, Gibbs-White would seemingly be an ideal fit for one of the two number 10 positions at Man United, as there are still lingering concerns about Alejandro Garnacho‘s suitability for the role.
Both Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo could also be sold for a healthy profit this summer, but if it is European football Gibbs-White is after, the 25-year-old may see no reason to leave the City Ground.
