Sheffield United had Morgan Gibbs-White in their hands - Nottingham Forest stole their millions | OneFootball

Morgan Gibbs-White was sensational during a loan spell at Sheffield United, prompting Nottingham Forest to spend big money following promotion.

Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White has been at the heart of an interesting transfer saga this summer, with Europa League champions Tottenham chasing the 25-year-old's signature.

It is easy to forget that the Forest captain once starred in the Championship with Sheffield United.

And what is even easier to forget is that one kick of a ball in 2022 played a significant role in deciding where Gibbs-White's future would lie.

Signing a new deal with the Garibaldi this summer, Gibbs-White has become talismanic under Nuno Espírito Santo at the City Ground, and it will always be a case of 'what could have been' for Sheffield United.

Morgan Gibbs-White was sensational at Bramall Lane

Gibbs-White made the move to Sheffield United in the summer of 2021 as they prepare for life back in the Championship following relegation from the top-flight.

The midfielder had been out on loan for the first half of the season prior, with Swansea City. However, after impressing despite torrid injury luck, he was recalled by his parent club, Wolves, as they struggled for depth in the Premier League.

As had been the case during much of Nuno's time at Wolves, Gibbs-White continued to struggle to make an impression at Molineux; thus, a loan spell with Sheffield United began, and it would prove to be a fruitful one.

The attacking midfielder never looked back after completing his switch to Bramall Lane, and despite the Blades making a disastrous start under Slaviša Jokanović, Gibbs-Whites helped the club regain some form.

A goal and an assist on his debut in a 6-2 win over Peterborough United was a real sign of things to come, and he backed that up with another goal on his second appearance, coming in a 2-2 draw with Preston.

Jokanović, the man who brought him to the club, left in November and was replaced by Paul Heckingbottom, but Gibbs-White continued to thrive. The Stafford-born loanee scored 11 Championship goals and registered nine assists in 35 league appearances for the Blades.

Heckingbottom's side managed to recover from their dreadful start to the season and earn a fifth-place finish to reach the play-offs, in part thanks to Gibbs-White's impressive form.

However, a cruel twist of fate would follow.

Nottingham Forest stole Sheffield United's millions - and Gibbs-White to go with

After scoring and providing an assist in a tense two-legged affair against Forest at the play-off semi-final stage, the second leg at the City Ground ended with the sides locked at 2-2 on aggregate, meaning that a dreaded penalty shootout would follow.

With Nottingham Forest's Wembley trip feeling like destiny after Steve Cooper's remarkable turnaround from the bottom of the Championship to the play-offs, Gibbs-White stepped up to take the decisive penalty.

With Brice Samba saving the midfielder's penalty to his right-hand side, it would be the Garibaldi that would go to Wembley and win promotion to the Premier League at the expense of Huddersfield.

With the Blades remaining in the Championship, Gibbs-White's future would be sealed away from Bramall Lane after earning his chance to shine in the Premier League.

The midfielder looked set to stay at Wolves over the summer months, as Bruno Lage planned with Gibbs-White in mind ahead of the 2022/23 term.

However, Forest came in with a mighty £42.5 million offer that Wolves simply couldn't refuse for a player unproven in the top-flight.

Reuniting with Steve Cooper, who had played a huge role in the midfielder's development during his England youth days and his short spell at Swansea, Gibbs-White would go on to thrive for the Garibaldi in the Premier League.

Gibbs-White was rewarded with the captain's armband before the 2024/25 season started, and he received his first England senior call-up under Lee Carsley in 2024, winning his first cap against the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League.

And after a fine campaign, Forest finished 7th in the Premier League under his former Wolves manager, Nuno, and earned a European place.

Sheffield United supporters will always wonder what could have been with Gibbs-White had the shootout result turned out differently in 2022. Nottingham Forest did not just steal the Blades' Premier League riches; they were able to nab a player who would go on to become a talismanic figure at the City Ground.