Man City leading the race to sign Nottingham Forest ace Morgan Gibbs-White | OneFootball

Manchester City are leading the race to sign Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, according to the Times.

Forest have shown no indication they’d be willing to do business, but City are positioning themselves as front-runners if the midfielder becomes available this summer.

Chris Wood has been lauded for spurring Forest’s remarkable pursuit of Champions League football, and rightly so.

However, Gibbs-White has been pulling the strings for the Tricky Trees in the middle of the park all season and has played an equally important role in the club’s resurgence.

The 25-year-old has featured 28 times in the Premier League this season, returning five goals and nine assists.

Gibbs-White has two years left on his contract, so Forest are under no financial pressure to sell.

They’ve also made it clear they’re not in the business of losing their key players, but that hasn’t deterred City, who will likely make their move once the transfer window opens.

The Premier League champions are in the market for a long-term successor for Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian announced that this season will be his last in City’s colours, and the club have wasted no time exploring potential replacements.

City have been linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, but interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid has forced them to explore other options.

Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has also been mooted as an option, but it appears the champions are going all out for Gibbs-White this summer.

The Englishman is seen as the ideal candidate to fill the creative gap in midfield, and his close ties with City’s Phil Foden could influence a potential deal.

Forest’s remarkable season has changed the narrative around the club. Now sitting fourth in the Premier League table, they’re no longer viewed simply as a stepping stone for top talent.

There is a growing belief that they can keep their key players and continue building at the City Ground.

However, if City act on their interest in Gibbs-White, it will take something special for him to turn down the champions.