Morgan Gibbs-White Man City Nottingham Forest
(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media/Imago)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sat 31 May 2025 13:00, UK
Nottingham Forest could look to sigh either Jack Grealish or James McAtee as part of a swap deal for Morgan Gibbs-White, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have told him about Forest‘s efforts to retain their star number 10.
Gibbs-White has emerged as Man City’s number one target in attacking midfield this summer as they look to replace Kevin De Bruyne, particularly after their pursuit of Florian Wirtz came to an abrupt end.
Forest’s failure to reach the Champions League opens the door for Gibbs-White to depart, but Football Insider sources have said the Reds want at least double the £42.5million they paid Wolves for him in 2022.
However, sources have also told Football Insider that a swap deal could be on the cards for two out-of-favour Man City players, with James McAtee seen as the most likely to facilitate Gibbs-White’s switch.
Both McAtee and Jack Grealish were surprisingly left out of Pep Guardiola’s squad for City’s last match of the season and look bound for the exit door, but sources have told Football Insider that the latter’s wages may cause “unrest” at Forest.
James McAtee England
England Under-21s captain James McAtee could be on his way to the City Ground (Credit: Imago)
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McAtee, Grealish transfers still difficult for Nottingham Forest
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told Football Insider on 11 May that Man City are ready to spend their “whole budget” on Gibbs-White this summer, but Guardiola would likely favour a swap deal.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that although swap deals are historically difficult for Premier League clubs to complete, City are hopeful they’ll be able to come to an agreement with Forest.
“Swap deals are notoriously hard in the Premier League, but we know Morgan Gibbs-White is a major target for Manchester City this summer”, he told Football Insider.
“He’s had a very good season for Forest — seven goals and ten assists… he’s under contract at the City Ground until 2027.
“If they get an offer which is too good to turn down, Forest might have to let him move to City… to work under Pep Guardiola… you’d probably be thinking that Forest will be looking to double their investment.
“Jack Grealish potentially is a swap deal – [that] might cause unrest if Forest were to break their budget to try and get Grealish in.
“James McAtee; there’s definitely interest in him from Forest… he was surprisingly left out of City’s squad for the final game of the season, which tells you that he doesn’t figure in Pep’s plans..
“He’ll probably have to seek a move away, but there’ll be lots of competition for McAtee’s signature.”
Jack Grealish playing for Man City
Jack Grealish looks set to be on his way out of Manchester City this summer (Credit: Imago)
Nottingham Forest ready to rebuild after Gibbs-White exit
McAtee and Grealish in particular are near-certainties to leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, but Forest could soon be consigned to being left in a similar position with regards to Gibbs-White’s future.
Arsenal have also entered the race for Gibbs-White to potentially drive his price tag even higher, and without Champions League footballer on offer it’s increasingly likely that they will lose the 25-year-old.
Signings such as McAtee or Liverpool youngster Harvey Elliott would be ambitious additions for Forest to make ahead of a UEFA Conference League campaign, but the loss of Gibbs-White would be a bitter pill to swallow for a club on an upward trajectory.
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