Manchester City have missed out on signing Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz and are now weighing up moves for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White and AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has missed out on his top target(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City have missed out Pep Guardiola's top transfer target after pulling out of the race to sign Florian Wirtz, with the club now turning their attention to two potential alternative options.
City were targeting Wirtz as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, who will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, but they are no longer pursuing the playmaker due to financial concerns over the deal.
Bayer Leverkusen are hoping to bank as much as £126million for Wirtz and City are unwilling to meet their demands, with it claimed the total financial package could amount to £250m with wages included.
According to a report from the Times, City are now weighing up moves for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White and AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders. The report states that Reijnders is available for around £55m.
Gibbs-White, meanwhile, has starred for Forest in their bid for European football this season. The 25-year-old has made 17 goal contributions in 33 league appearances for Forest so far.
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They currently sit seventh in the league, although just one point separates them from third-placed Newcastle heading into their final game of the season against Chelsea on Sunday.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo was recently quizzed about Gibbs-White's future and insisted the midfielder remains happy at the City Ground. "Normally, me personally, I think during the competition it is not healthy to speak or to approach other players of other teams," he said.
"Regarding Morgan, I see him happy and I see him working hard. I see him focused. Morgan is one of the players that because we know each other so well and for so long, we don't have to speak.
Morgan Gibbs-White
Manchester City are interested in Morgan Gibbs-White
"But I see him well. Just leave Morgan to do his job and enjoy his football. When he does it, it is amazing."
Gibbs-White is among the nominees for the Premier League Player of the Season award alongside Forest team-mate Chris Wood, Newcastle's Alexander Isak, Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, Arsenal's Declan Rice and Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch.
Espirito Santo has also been nominated for the Manager of the Season award, while Forest winger Anthony Elanga is up for the Young Player of the Season award.
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