Tottenham could revive interest in a Premier League star after missing out on his services last year.
Thomas Frank was the one who paid the price for Tottenham Hotspur’s failure this season, and while a lot of that is warranted, there are several areas in which questions need to be asked, and recruitment is one of them.
Very few of the arrivals in North London over the last 12 months have taken the club forward. Xavi Simons arrived at Tottenham from RB Leipzig amid a lot of fanfare last summer following his exploits in the Bundesliga. However, he has struggled to live up to his billing at White Hart Lane.
The Dutchman has not solved Tottenham’s creativity issues in the absence of key stars James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, which could force the club to dip in the summer transfer market for a playmaker.
Tottenham plan to revive interest in Nottingham Forest star
Truth be told, Simons was not the Lilywhites’ first-choice No.10 target. Spurs had set their sights on signing Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White last year. They had lodged bids for Morgan Gibbs-White that met and then exceeded a £60million release clause inserted in his contract.
Nottingham Forest were strongly against the move, considering lodging a legal complaint against Tottenham to the Premier League. Eventually, the creative midfielder rejected a move to Tottenham and chose to stay, before penning a new contract with the club until 2028.
Now, according to an exclusive report from SportsBoom, Tottenham are ready to reignite their interest in Gibbs-White this summer. They are ready to test Nottingham Forest’s resolve over their skipper, who is valued at €80–85m.
Following the chaos at Forest, who are 17th in the table and in danger of getting relegated this season, Gibbs-White is understood to be contemplating his long-term future as he aims to tie down a regular spot in the England squad. A drop to the Championship would certainly see the 26-year-old seek an exit from the City Ground. Regardless, this season appears to be the last for the Englishman as he looks to find stability in his career.
Do Tottenham need Gibbs-White?
At some point this season, Kulusevski will return from a long injury layoff. Maddison is trying his best to make an appearance this term, but given his ACL issue, it looks unlikely. Mohammed Kudus was Tottenham’s most creative player under Thomas Frank before he suffered a quad injury in January, sidelining him until after the March international break.
Given the creative midfield options they have in the squad, it begs the question- do Tottenham need Gibbs-White? The Forest captain would undoubtedly bring attacking impetus, flair and energy to their midfield unit, as well as leadership skills. However, the transfer itself may be a bit complicated after what happened last summer between Tottenham and Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Plus, unless the North Londoners decide to move on either Maddison or Kulusevski in the summer, spending in the €80 ballpark for a creative midfielder doesn’t look feasible. So, whether the Hotspur Way chiefs decide to really test Forest’s resolve over Gibbs-White is a separate quandary from whether he is needed at N17.