Morgan Gibbs-White looks set to be the subject of intense interest in the summer, with Nottingham Forest on alert for the approach of potential suitors.
Rio Ferdinand thinks Forest will struggle to keep Gibbs-White and that will be an opinion shared with plenty of the footballing world, as the brilliance of the Forest squad this season attracts outside interest.
Reports suggest that Forest would demand at least £50m for Gibbs-White in a valuation that is only likely to go up as the summer approaches, especially if the Reds can qualify for the Champions League.
If they do qualify, there’s every chance that it is at the expense of Manchester City. City have shown interest in Gibbs-White already this season but a fresh update has suggested that this rumour is set to ramp up.
Manchester City lead the race for Morgan Gibbs-White
Undoubtedly, Gibbs-White would fit in at City, given how impactful he is with his energy and technical ability, something that Pep Guardiola has clearly noticed.
According to the Daily Mail, the legendary Spanish coach must be pushing behind the scenes for this transfer as his side are now firmly in the lead to sign the Forest talisman.
The report said: “Manchester City are considered frontrunners in the pursuit of England international Morgan Gibbs-White this summer.
“New director of football Hugo Viana is set to reshape City’s squad over the coming months, with central midfield a key area to strengthen after the club opted against offering Kevin De Bruyne a new contract.
“Liverpool and Manchester United have been credited with interest in Gibbs-White but Mail Sport understands City will lead the race once the campaign is over.”
With Gibbs-White nearing a Forest assist record, his creativity would be easily translated to Guardiola’s side, whilst being sorely missed by Nuno Espirito Santo.
However, Evangelos Marinakis may have something to say about the rumours, given the work he has put in behind the scenes to strengthen Forest’s position.
Nottingham Forest do not need to sell Morgan Gibbs-White
Forest only had a £16m net spend this season on transfers so there is no sense that the club is in desperate need of a sale, something that could be crucial in any negotiations over Gibbs-White.
A separate report from The Times said: “It is understood Forest have no desire to sell the 25-year-old [Gibbs-White], who they signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2022, and are not in a financial position where they need to sell.”
It’s been suggested that Newcastle admire Gibbs-White too but with the financial strength at the City Ground, the Forest owner will have the luxury of demanding a sizeable fee for his star man, something that would’ve been unlikely even a year ago.
Marinakis may reject any and every bid outright, but if he does choose to negotiate, the cards will be in his hands in what would likely be a club-record sale.
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