Tottenham Keeps Morgan Gibbs-White Pursuit Alive as Forest Plans New Deal

NOTTINGHAM, England — Nottingham Forest is preparing to offer Morgan Gibbs-White a new contract extension as it seeks to secure the midfielder’s long-term future and ward off renewed interest from Tottenham Hotspur ahead of upcoming transfer windows.

Gibbs-White originally joined Nottingham Forest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2022 for a club-record initial fee of £25 million. Add-ons could raise the total package to £42.5 million, while the Wolves academy product had already won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with England in 2017.

Tottenham’s internal evaluation of Gibbs-White has remained unchanged despite the legal tension surrounding its original approach. Club decision-makers continue to regard the central midfielder as a primary long-term target, with growing internal consensus that the pursuit was justified.


His first four Premier League appearances this season have produced one goal and two assists under Oliver Glasner. Gibbs-White’s domestic form also led to his senior England debut in September 2024, when interim manager Lee Carsley selected him for a UEFA Nations League match against the Republic of Ireland.

The contract situation became contentious during the explosive summer transfer window in 2025, when Tottenham attempted to trigger a buyout clause in Gibbs-White’s Forest contract. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis threatened legal action against Tottenham over the approach before the standoff was temporarily defused by the 24-year-old England international signing a fresh three-year contract at the City Ground.

By January, Gibbs-White will have 18 months remaining on that agreement. Forest executives want to begin extension talks to strengthen their negotiating position and protect the market valuation of their main playmaker. He established himself as Forest’s key creative figure after arriving from Wolves and won the club’s Player of the Season award for the 2022–23 campaign.

Forest leadership has adopted a firm position against losing key squad members, particularly after allowing midfielder Elliot Anderson to make a high-profile move to Manchester City. Club officials consider a mid-season departure for Gibbs-White out of the question while they work to maintain stability in their core roster.

Tottenham spent more than £300 million during the recent summer transfer window to reshape its squad, but early-season performance fluctuations have kept attention on the addition of proven creative talent in central positions. The club has previously conducted business with Forest, signing winger Brennan Johnson from the East Midlands club in September 2023 for a £47.5 million fee.

With elite attacking midfielders in high demand across the Premier League, Tottenham is maintaining a patient stance while monitoring Gibbs-White’s contract situation. If extension talks between Forest and the player stall, Tottenham remains positioned to test Forest’s resolve in future transfer windows.