Thomas Frank is interested in taking Morgan Gibbs-White to Tottenham Hotspur as the new manager looks to overhaul his squad.
That’s according to The Athletic, who claim Frank is a ‘long-term admirer’ of the Nottingham Forest play-maker and that he will now ‘try and convince him to join’.
That, of course, is providing a deal can be struck with Forest where Gibbs-White has transformed from a promising youngster into a consistent Premier League top performer, whilst also assuming the captaincy and making the England squad.
The BBC have subsequently upped the stakes by claiming Tottenham have opened formal talks over a minimum £60m move and that the transfer is ‘accelerating quickly’.
The Athletic story says Gibbs-White was ‘strongly considered’ by Manchester City before they signed Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders – but intimates that Tottenham are very keen.
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For all the BBC's confidence, Forest won’t feel a financial need to cash-in on their crown jewel, with Anthony Elanga on the brink of a move to Newcastle United. They also have the former Wolves man under contract for the next two seasons.
Much will depend on where Gibbs-White sees his future, continuing to be the talisman of Nuno Espirito Santo’s team or spreading his wings.
Frank was keen on taking Gibbs-White to Brentford from Wolves before the 25-year-old joined Forest and has tended to operate with a 4-2-3-1 system which, like Forest, suits the attacker.
Forest are also facing interest in another of their key players, with Atletico Madrid claimed to be interested in Murillo, amid concerns from pundit Simon Jordan that the Reds could have their best stars ‘cherry-picked’.
Are you worried about Spurs interest in MGW? Have your say here