Morgan Gibbs-White’s potential move to Manchester City could significantly alter Nottingham Forest’s transfer plans, with Kyle Walker giving his opinion on the move from the Cityzens’ perspective.
Gibbs-White has been linked with City as we approach the summer transfer window, with the former Premier League champions looking to replace the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne in midfield.
Beyond anything else, Forest’s Champions League fate will impact Gibbs-White and his decision to stay or go. Evangelos Marinakis can only do so much to convince his star man if City can offer that elusive Champions League football over Forest.
It looks as if Gibbs-White is City’s priority target, so the story won’t be going anywhere as Walker chimes in with his thoughts on the City Ground talisman.
Kyle Walker is a long-term admirer of Morgan Gibbs-White
Perhaps the transfer speculation is impacting him as Forest fans were unimpressed by Gibbs-White in their side’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, but this won’t have swayed City at all.
In fact, those associated with the club only seem to have positive things to say about the Forest man, with Walker taking time on his Kyle Walker Podcast to discuss Gibbs-White.
He said: “He’s [Gibbs-White] got the ability, he was a player I watched at Sheffield United. To be cast aside at Wolves, then go to Sheffield United and then Forest and do what he’s done, breaking into the England team, he’s got all the ability.”
This ability has never been in question, with the likes of Jamie Carragher raving about Gibbs-White’s talent throughout the season. However, focusing on the crucial final games of this campaign, the Forest squad need their star man to be fully focused and to reassert his influence on games.
Nottingham Forest need more from Morgan Gibbs-White
His struggles on Monday against Palace have been discussed, but this wasn’t an outlier, as Gibbs-White’s influence on Forest’s play has been slipping in recent weeks.
Murillo was criticised for his showing against Brentford, but Gibbs-White also struggled, leaving the Reds without the crucial link to allow Chris Wood to be more involved.
| Statistic | Morgan Gibbs-White vs Brentford |
| Minutes played | 75 |
| Accurate passes | 27/38 (71%) |
| Shots on target | 0 |
| Ground duels won | 2/5 (40%) |
| Yellow cards | 1 |
Gibbs-White was replaced by Jota Silva with 15 minutes left to play, after not registering a single shot on target while only completing 71% of his passes.
He was also weak in the tackle, picking up a yellow card in the process. Forest still have a strong chance of Champions League qualification, but they need their stars to be on form, with Gibbs-White most important as the piece to link the team together.
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