Nottingham Forest may have received a significant boost regarding Morgan Gibbs-White’s future following recent developments involving Manchester City.
Forest are keen to retain their influential number 10, who they signed from Wolves in 2022 for an initial £25 million plus add-ons. Gibbs-White has been vital to their Premier League campaign, contributing 7 goals and 10 assists this season. However, his impressive performances have attracted interest from several top clubs, including Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.
Manchester City are closely monitoring Gibbs-White as they look for a creative midfielder to replace the departing Kevin De Bruyne. Yet, reports suggest City may now prioritize signing Lyon’s Rayan Cherki instead, who is available for a lower fee and fits their long-term plans. Cherki, 21, has impressed this season with 12 goals and 20 assists and has a release clause reportedly between £20-25 million, making him a more cost-effective option compared to the estimated £70 million valuation for Gibbs-White.
This shift in City’s transfer focus could ease the pressure on Nottingham Forest, who are not under financial strain and have no immediate plans to sell Gibbs-White. The club values him highly and is preparing for him to remain a key part of their squad next season, especially with new signings strengthening the team.
While Forest would profit substantially if Gibbs-White were sold, the possibility of City targeting Cherki instead provides hope that the club can keep their star midfielder for another season. The situation remains fluid, but current indications suggest Forest’s chances of retaining Gibbs-White have improved following City’s interest in an alternative target.