Why Forest star Gibbs-White warrants high-profile Premier League interest this summer

Morgan Gibbs-White is having an interesting season for Nottingham Forest. 

The 23-year-old moved to the City ground in the summer in a deal believed to be worth £42m. Gibbs-White enjoyed an impressive stint on loan in the Championship last season with Sheffield United and did enough to convince Forest to part with a club record fee. Though the deal was structured in a way that meant the newly promoted side paid an initial £25m, reports implied the additional £17m were made up of fairly achievable add-ons. 

At a glance, the former Wolves youngster hasn’t set the world alight as the Forest No. 10. He’s scored just three goals for Steve Cooper’s side and chipped in with six assists. Yet he’s the third highest scorer for the relegation battlers behind Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi while no Forest player can better his assists tally.  

In fact, Gibbs-White has been heavily involved in everything good this season despite the fact he’s been deployed in a variety of roles for Cooper’s men. The England under-21 international has played across the front three, even turning out as a false-nine on occasion. He caught the eye in the defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in an attacking midfield role. Cooper went with a 3-4-3 shape on Saturday with Gibbs-White supporting the lone forward, Awoniyi.  

The Forest star assisted his side's opener, sliding a pass into the feet of former Red Neco Williams. His driven effort clipped Andrew Robertson before wrong footing Alisson Becker. He then rifled in a short lived equaliser, connecting with a half volley from just inside the area. 

His goal and assist, along with his 100% dribble success rate, saw him return the highest WhoScored rating on the day with a score of 8.30. He attempted three shots at Anfield, a figure only Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota (4) bettered while no player attempted more dribbles than the multifunctional midfielder.  

Gibbs-White could well find himself at a crossroads this summer. There’s every possibility that Forest are relegated this season and having proven he can perform in the Premier League, he’s going to have a decision to make. Does he stick with the club that gave him the opportunity to play on a regular basis in the English top-flight, giving them a season in the second tier in a bid to get them promoted again? Or does he look to explore his options and perhaps exploit the chaos created by Jude Bellingham? 

Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all believed to be keeping tabs on the midfielders’s situation with BVB. He was expected to leave this summer but Dortmund’s title challenge has prolonged his decision making process, and recent reports have hinted that the England international could well extend his stay in the Bundesliga. He has just two years left on his deal but the rumoured proposal would see him pen a new contract that would include a release clause that could be activated next summer during a predefined window.  

Gibbs-White isn’t a like for like Bellingham alternative. The Forest man is much smaller, coming in at 5ft 7in while Bellingham is over 6ft, and he is much more of an attacking player who thrives in transitional situations. However, if the play was to use the former Birmingham City youngster as a final phase player - almost as an attacking No. 8 - the Forest man could do that job.  

He doesn’t come with the experience and his ceiling is much lower than Bellingham, but the price tag would reflect that. Whereas BVB are believed to want £130m for their prized asset, Gibbs-White would likely be available for much closer to £50m. This may seem steep but he is English, he has Premier League experience and he is only 23. There’s potential for him to improve, especially in the right environment. Forest make a profit and are rewarded for their development of the one-time Swansea loanee and his efforts are rewarded with an extended stay in the Premier League.  

He could go under the radar this summer. If he is on the move though, he could prove to be a shrewd signing for someone.