It is not a surprise that Manchester City and Arsenal are shopping in the same market.
Both English giants are entering the 2025/26 season with the ambition of wrestling the Premier League title away from Liverpool, having fallen well short of the Reds last season, and they know new faces are required to achieve this.
Man City have been more proactive than Arsenal so far this summer, with a right-back being the only role Pep Guardiola has left to sort out, but the North London side are expected to be more noticeable in the transfer market over the coming weeks.
With Thomas Partey leaving Arsenal, Mikel Arteta is keen to add a new midfielder to his squad, and the Spaniard has now added a player to his list who looked certain to be moving to the Etihad Stadium for the upcoming campaign.
Pep Guardiola and Morgan Gibbs-White after Nottingham Forest v Manchester City.
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Arsenal are interested in Morgan Gibbs-White
Morgan Gibbs-White was expected to join Man City this summer as the Manchester club has a very strong interest in the Nottingham Forest star; however, Guardiola and Hugo Viana opted to bring in Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan instead.
This has opened up the path for other Premier League clubs to make a move for the England star, and having impressed in the Premier League last season, Arsenal have now added the 25-year-old to their list.
Player Games Goals Assists Minutes
Morgan Gibbs-White 38 7 10 3142
Tijjani Reijnders 57 15 5 4861
Morgan Gibbs-White and Tijjani Reijnders 24/25 stats
More Man City News
According to The Athletic, Arsenal are currently focusing on strengthening their attack ahead of the new season by adding a new striker to their ranks; however, Arteta would also like to see a winger, and now a creative midfielder, arrive in North London.
The report states that the Gunners’ wide targets include Rodrygo, Nico Williams, and Anthony Gordon, while Chelsea’s Noni Madueke is also under consideration.
As for the number 10 role, Arsenal are keen on English trio Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, and Gibbs-White.
It remains to be seen if Man City make a move for the Nottingham Forest star before the transfer window closes; therefore, signing the midfielder could benefit Arsenal in many ways.
Mikel Arteta looking frustrated during Arsenal v Everton.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
What happened between Man City and Morgan Gibbs-White
When Guardiola met with Gibbs-White after Man City’s FA Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest last season, it looked certain that the midfielder would be wearing sky blue this season.
Man City are big fans of the 25-year-old, but the main reason for the deal not happening was a result of the £100m Nottingham Forest were asking to part ways with Gibbs-White.
It has also been reported that Man City knew negotiations with Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, were unlikely to run smoothly, and with the Manchester club wanting a new midfielder in before travelling to the FIFA Club World Cup, they opted to move for Reijnders instead.
A move to the Etihad Stadium may still be on the cards for Gibbs-White in the future should he not switch clubs over the coming weeks. That is unlikely though, as several Premier League clubs remain keen on the England international.