Report: Forest fury halts Spurs’ pursuit of midfield star after legal challenge | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest Lodge Formal Complaint Over Tottenham’s Morgan Gibbs-White Pursuit

Nottingham Forest have officially lodged a complaint to the Premier League over what they claim was an unauthorised approach by Tottenham Hotspur for midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

The 25-year-old, who played a pivotal role in Forest’s impressive 2024/25 campaign, was reportedly on the verge of completing a £60 million move to Spurs, with a medical initially scheduled for Friday. However, the deal has now been cast into uncertainty, with Forest alleging that Tottenham acted improperly in their pursuit of the England international.

Sources close to the City Ground suggest Spurs did not receive permission to enter into talks with Gibbs-White, prompting Forest to raise the issue with the Premier League. Central to their grievance is how Tottenham allegedly gained access to confidential contractual details, including the player’s release clause.

https://x.com/NFFC/status/1944683886614618131

Spurs’ summer spending under scrutiny

Tottenham, now under the stewardship of Thomas Frank, have been aggressive in the market this summer, having already signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for £55m. The North London club are eager to reinforce their attacking ranks ahead of the new campaign and view Gibbs-White as a key target.

But Forest’s formal complaint has halted negotiations. Contact between the two clubs has ceased entirely, and Gibbs-White reported for pre-season training with Forest’s international contingent on Monday, despite earlier expectations he would be finalising a move to North London.

Forest stand firm on prized asset

Forest, who sold Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £55m earlier this month, are determined not to lose another key attacking figure without due process. Gibbs-White has become a cornerstone of the project at the City Ground since his £42m move from Wolves in 2022.

Last season, he contributed seven goals and ten assists in the Premier League, helping Forest to a seventh-place finish, their best since returning to the top flight. His performances earned him a long-awaited England debut in October 2024 against the Republic of Ireland.

Regarded as a potential inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad, Gibbs-White has also previously attracted interest from Manchester City, though Pep Guardiola’s side shifted their attention to other targets, including AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders.

Premier League could intervene

Should the Premier League find Spurs breached regulations by contacting the player or his representatives without Forest’s consent, sanctions could follow. The case bears resemblance to past tampering incidents and may prompt the league to reaffirm its stance on transfer protocols and player approaches.

For now, Gibbs-White remains a Forest player, with the club hopeful of holding onto one of their most valuable assets as they aim to build on last season’s success.