Nottingham Forest ‘persuading’ Gibbs-White to stay | OneFootball

Tottenham Set Timeline as Forest Dig In Over Gibbs-White Deal

Forest determined to keep key midfielder despite Tottenham interest

Nottingham Forest are pushing to retain Morgan Gibbs-White amid persistent interest from Tottenham Hotspur, according to GiveMeSport. The midfielder, who played a crucial role in Forest’s impressive campaign last season, is seen as a priority target for Thomas Frank.

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Forest are understood to be preparing a new contract offer in a bid to secure the England international’s long-term commitment. The club’s intention is to remove a £60 million release clause that has attracted attention from rivals. However, GiveMeSport state that Forest have “struggled for over a year” to convince Gibbs-White to extend his stay.

Legal questions arise as Forest push back

The situation has now escalated. Forest have written to Tottenham to express concerns over how the North London club became aware of the clause. The club believes there is no legal pathway for Spurs to access that information unless it came directly from Forest themselves.

As GiveMeSport report, “it’s not uncommon for clauses to be kept secret, and players are sometimes bound by terms not to breach confidentiality.” Forest are reportedly exploring legal action and have raised the issue with the Premier League.

Tottenham aim for swift resolution

Despite the legal warning, Tottenham remain focused on signing Gibbs-White. According to the report, they are “hoping to resolve the situation this week.” A medical had been scheduled last week, but the process has stalled while Spurs evaluate their next steps.

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While the player is said to be open to the move, Forest are holding firm. They have made it clear that Tottenham are not permitted to contact Gibbs-White without formal permission. The North London club’s pursuit now hinges on how they respond to the potential legal proceedings.

Comparison made with Olise situation

There are echoes of the Michael Olise case, where Chelsea believed they had triggered his clause, only for Crystal Palace to contest the process. Olise ultimately signed a new deal before later joining Bayern Munich. Forest are clearly hoping for a similar outcome in their efforts to keep Gibbs-White.

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Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Morgan Gibbs-White has been transformative since his arrival, and letting him go now, just as Forest are building momentum, would send the wrong message.

Forest’s insistence on defending their contractual terms and even considering legal action shows a level of backbone we have not always seen. The idea that another club could potentially exploit a release clause through informal channels is unacceptable, and supporters will be pleased to see the club not rolling over.

Yes, £60 million is significant, but so is the player’s value to the project. You do not replace someone like Gibbs-White easily. He fits Forest’s style, understands the club, and has shown loyalty. If they are to progress as a club, they need to keep players like him at the centre of it.

Offering a new deal and removing the clause is smart business. Forest must hold firm. If Spurs want him, they should go through the proper channels or move on. This one could still get messy, but Forest look ready for the fight.