Tottenham Target £125m Morgan Gibbs-White Transfer Move (North London 2026)

Key Points

• Tottenham Hotspur have been rumored to be coming up with a new tactic for signing Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White in the January transfer window.
• It seems like the potential move will cost Spurs about £125 million to make the club from Nottingham agree to let their player leave.
• The club tried to sign the Englishman in July 2025 using the £60 million release clause but were in a legal battle with the club and Gibbs-White ended up signing a new contract with Forest.
• Roberto De Zerbi, who is in charge at Tottenham, is looking to bring in a creative midfielder to help boost the side’s attacking output after a poor start to the campaign.
• Forest have a lot of bargaining power after making a decent amount of money through the transfer of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) September 21, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly weighing up an ambitious move to sign England midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest in the upcoming January transfer window. As reported by Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Spurs are considering reigniting their pursuit of the 26-year-old playmaker, who is currently valued by his club at approximately £125 million. Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi is understood to view Gibbs-White as an ideal profile to solve the club’s creative struggles, despite the significant financial outlay required to complete any deal.

Will Tottenham Hotspur Pay £125m for Morgan Gibbs-White in January?

According to reporting by Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are actively evaluating a fresh push to sign Morgan Gibbs-White when the transfer window reopens in January. The North London club previously tried to land the England international in the summer of 2025. At that time, Spurs attempted to activate what they believed was a £60 million release clause in the player’s contract.

However, as reported by James Marshment of TEAMtalk, that proposed transfer collapsed after Nottingham Forest challenged the approach, alleging that confidentiality surrounding the clause had been breached, and threatened legal action. Following the standoff, Gibbs-White extended his commitment to the City Ground by signing a new contract running through June 2028.

Despite the previous dispute, Tottenham’s recruitment team has maintained continuous interest in the midfielder. Reports from Football Insider indicate that Forest’s internal valuation now stands at £125 million, reflecting both Gibbs-White’s central role in their squad and his consistent performance levels in the Premier League.

Why Is Roberto De Zerbi Prioritising a New Creative Midfielder?

As outlined by Goal’s transfer coverage, Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi has requested dynamic midfield reinforcements to address early-season offensive stagnation. Spurs have struggled to maintain vertical passing fluidity and chances creation in tight defensive blocks.

Gibbs-White’s statistical output has reinforced his standing as one of the division’s top central playmakers. Across the 2026 calendar year, the 26-year-old has recorded 13 Premier League goals, making him the competition’s highest scorer in that calendar span. His versatility enables him to operate as a traditional central attacking midfielder (number 10) or in advanced box-to-box roles.

How Does Nottingham Forest’s Financial Position Impact the Deal?

As reported by TEAMtalk, Nottingham Forest are under no financial imperative to sell key assets in the near term. The club secured substantial capital following the £116 million transfer of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City, satisfying profitability and sustainability rule (PSR) compliance requirements.

According to sources cited by Football Insider, Forest management views Gibbs-White as indispensable to manager Oliver Glasner’s tactical project. With the player contracted for two more seasons, Forest are expected to reject any proposals below their £125 million valuation.

Background of the Particular Development

The relationship between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest regarding Morgan Gibbs-White has been defined by tense negotiations and contract disputes over the past 14 months. In July 2025, Tottenham lodged a formal £60 million bid, believing it triggered an release clause within Gibbs-White’s original agreement. Forest disputed the validity and notification process of the clause, initiating formal legal objections that brought transfer talks to a immediate halt.

Shortly after the deal aborted, Gibbs-White signed a contract extension until 2028, increasing his weekly wage to £110,000 and removing the contentious release terms. Spurs subsequently invested heavily in alternative offensive options during the 2025 summer window, signing Omar Marmoush and Mohammed Kudus in transactions totaling over £300 million. Nevertheless, structural gaps in central progression have led De Zerbi’s technical staff back to Gibbs-White as their primary target for 2027 planning.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest

If Tottenham Hotspur decide to meet Nottingham Forest’s £125 million price tag, it will break Tottenham’s historical transfer fee record and reshape their wage hierarchy. For Tottenham fans and squad dynamics, bringing in a direct playmaker of Gibbs-White’s profile would likely increase central chance creation, providing forward Omar Marmoush with direct service in transition. However, committing such a high fee could restrict Spurs’ capacity to address other positional requirements in future transfer windows.

For Nottingham Forest and their supporters, retaining Gibbs-White maintains structural continuity under Oliver Glasner as they compete for mid-table stability or European qualification spots. Conversely, if Forest accept a nine-figure fee, the proceeds would grant the board significant latitude to reinvest across multiple positions, though replacing Gibbs-White’s direct goal contributions (13 goals in 2026) would present an immediate tactical challenge on the pitch.