Morgan Gibbs-White latest: Man City 'given boost' in hijacking Tottenham transfer as Nottingham Forest star arrives at pre-season camp

Morgan Gibbs-White has reported for pre-season training at Nottingham Forest, but his future at the club remains up in the air.

Multiple reports have claimed that the 25-year-old did not initially travel with the rest of Forest’s squad to Portugal on Monday as he was given special leave by the club to deal with a private matter.

Gibbs-White flew to Portugal on Wednesday night instead and the midfielder could be in contention to feature in some capacity in Forest’s friendly clash against fellow Premier League side Fulham on Saturday.

Forest’s No.10 has been at the centre of an ongoing transfer wrangle with Tottenham Hotspur, who allegedly activated a £60m release clause in his contract earlier this month.

As things stand, Forest are said to consider Gibbs-White's proposed move to North London to be off while they consult their lawyers over potential legal action, as they believe that Spurs made an illegal approach to the player and never granted permission for them to speak to him.

Marinakis wants Man City to rival Spurs for Gibbs-White

It remains unclear as to whether Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are able to block the transfer entirely, but Spurs’ pursue of Gibbs-White is expected to be delayed, as Forest prepare an official complaint to the Premier League.

While Tottenham are said to remain confident of adding Gibbs-White to Thomas Frank's squad ahead of the new season, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has other ideas.

According to talkSPORT, Marinakis is hopeful that Manchester City will reignite their interest in Gibbs-White and submit a bid for the England international.

It is claims that there was a previous understanding between Gibbs-White and Marinakis, with the former telling the latter at the end of last season that he would only leave the City Ground for a certain level of club.

Marinakis is said to believe that Tottenham, who won the Europa League last season and have qualified for next season’s Champions League despite finishing down in 17th place in the Premier League, do not fall into that category.

Could Man City reignite interest in Gibbs-White?

Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany claims that Gibbs-White was expecting a move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this summer, but the Citizens were put off by his £100m valuation at the time.

Reports of a potential move to the Man City soon cooled following the arrivals of playmaker Rayan Cherki and midfielder Tijjani Reijnders ahead of the Club World Cup, but a summer switch to Pep Guardiola’s side has not been entirely ruled out.

Man City are known to be actively looking to address the current homegrown status of their first-team squad, and they may be required to recruit English talent as well as offload some foreign players ahead of the new season.

Midfield duo Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic have both been linked with a potential exit, although the latter looks increasingly likely to see out the final year of his contract at Man City, according to Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk who has previously expressed an interest in the 34-year-old.

Forest's hope for Man City to return to the race for Gibbs-White comes at a time when the Tricky Trees are one of a plethora of clubs who have been linked with James McAtee, who is expected to leave the Etihad this summer.

Written by
Oliver Thomas