Transfer Centre

Tottenham Hotspur 'suffer setback in pursuit of Nottingham Forest attacker'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 11 May 2024

Tottenham 'suffer setback in pursuit of Nottingham Forest attacker'

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly quoted a mammoth £60m fee if they wish to prise Morgan Gibbs-White away from Nottingham Forest this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been quoted a higher fee than initially expected to sign one of their top attacking targets this summer.

The efforts of Morgan Gibbs-White have gone a long way to keeping Nottingham Forest afloat in the Premier League, where he has contributed five goals and eight assists from 35 games this season.

Despite the mid-season exit of Brennan Johnson, Gibbs-White has continued to excel in the final third for the Tricky Trees, registering six direct involvements in his last eight top-flight outings.

The 24-year-old is still on the same terms that he penned upon his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2022, but Forest are still adequately protected, as his contract does not expire for another three years.

Furthermore, Forest's anticipated survival in the Premier League slightly lessens the need for the Tricky Trees to make major sales for cut-price fees, in spite of their well-documented financial troubles and points deduction.

Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White celebrates scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers on April 13, 2024 © Reuters

Tottenham 'told to pay £60m for Gibbs-White'

Gibbs-White was expected to be one of those to depart in a big-money deal should Forest be forced to sell off their top assets, and it was previously reported that Forest would hold out for around £50m.

However, with the Reds now on the cusp of Premier League survival, Football Insider claims that Forest would now demand at least £60m to consider parting ways with Gibbs-White in the coming months.

Despite Forest's more reassuring position in the Premier League, Spurs still have some shreds of encouragement in their pursuit of the attacker, who is apparently seen as the Reds' most sellable asset.

The report adds that Gibbs-White is also keen to take the step-up to a more revered Premier League team in the near future, as he is desperate to make his breakthrough into the senior England squad.

Newcastle United and West Ham United could provide stiff competition for Gibbs-White's signature, but Tottenham's expected qualification for the Europa League puts them at the head of the queue.

Which other strikers could Tottenham target?

Brentford's Ivan Toney on April 3, 2024 © Reuters

The only natural striker signed to fill the Harry Kane-sized void last summer was Alejo Veliz, who is far from the finished product, while Richarlison cannot be trusted to either stay fit or consistently make the net bulge.

Unless ageing captain Son Heung-min is deployed as Spurs' number nine moving forward - an unlikely scenario - a new focal point will be high on Ange Postecoglou's agenda this summer, although Gibbs-White has traditionally occupied a role just off Forest's centre-forward.

There is every chance that Timo Werner's loan will be made permanent, and the RB Leipzig-owned man has experience through the middle, although has often featured off the left for Spurs since January.

Instead, Tottenham are being tipped to win the race for Brentford's Ivan Toney, who is no longer believed to be a prime target for Arsenal or Chelsea and could supposedly be available for around £50m in the summer market.

Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez and Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy could also be of interest to Tottenham, who kept their top-four hopes alive while also relegating Burnley in a 2-1 win over the Clarets on Saturday.