Report: Forest stand firm despite Premier League interest in star | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest Dig in over Morgan Gibbs-White amid Spurs Interest

Forest Unmoved as Tottenham Circle

Nottingham Forest are standing firm on their position over Morgan Gibbs-White, following Tottenham Hotspur’s aggressive attempt to sign the midfielder. As first reported by The Daily Mail, Spurs believed they had triggered a £60 million release clause in Gibbs-White’s contract earlier this month, only for Forest to accuse the club of making an ‘illegal’ approach and threaten to report them to the Premier League.

Despite Spurs’ assumption, the deal came to a screeching halt. Forest’s dissatisfaction with how the North London club handled the situation has only intensified their desire to sell Gibbs-White elsewhere, should they have to at all. In a surprising twist, the club would even prefer to sell the player to a rival – an unusual stance in the modern Premier League landscape.

Gibbs-White Professional Despite Spurs Dream

Although Gibbs-White is reportedly eager to join Tottenham, The Daily Mail states that “he has shown an exemplary attitude since returning for duty on July 14.” The 25-year-old is currently not with the squad in Portugal due to a private, non-football-related matter but is expected to rejoin later this week.

Forest’s handling of the situation suggests they are not keen to be strong-armed into a deal, regardless of the player’s preference. While Manchester City had shown interest in the spring, they have since turned their attention to Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, leaving Spurs as the only major suitor at present.

Second Spurs Bid on the Horizon?

It’s understood a second offer from Spurs—potentially in the region of £65 million—is being considered, though not yet submitted. Whether this is enough to change Forest’s position remains to be seen. As of January, Gibbs-White was resisting new contract offers from Forest, despite the proposed deal doubling his current £60,000-per-week wage.

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Forest’s reluctance appears to be driven not just by principle, but also by pragmatism. Having already lost Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £55 million, the club cannot afford to dismantle its attacking core without a clear succession plan.

Transfer Targets and Squad Planning

With Nuno Espirito Santo looking to rebuild his forward line, Forest’s recruitment team have been actively pursuing reinforcements. Callum Hudson-Odoi, whose contract expires next summer, is a priority for renewal. Interest also remains in Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, Manchester City’s James McAtee and Swiss forward Dan Ndoye, currently playing for Bologna.

Forest’s assertive stance in this transfer saga sends a clear message: they are not a selling club willing to be bullied by Premier League giants. Whatever happens next, this story is far from over.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Nottingham Forest fan’s perspective, this whole situation with Morgan Gibbs-White will feel like another chapter in the club being disrespected by the top tier’s so-called “elite.” The idea that Tottenham thought they could swoop in, trigger a release clause, and walk away with arguably our best player—without full transparency—feels off.

Forest’s reaction was justified. Whether it was genuinely an “illegal approach” or not, the club had every right to push back. We’re not in the Championship anymore—we have to act like a top-flight club with standards. The fact that we’d rather sell to a rival than to Spurs shows there’s more going on behind the scenes than just transfer fees.

That said, there’s realism among supporters. If Gibbs-White truly wants out, and if he’s not going to extend his deal, cashing in now might make sense—especially at £65 million. But it has to be on our terms.

Losing Elanga was already a blow. Losing Gibbs-White without a proper plan would be a disaster. Hopefully, if this transfer does go through, the money gets reinvested wisely. Names like McAtee and Ramsey are promising, but no one fills Gibbs-White’s boots easily. We’re trusting Nuno to rebuild—but the club must back him with real quality, not just potential.