Tottenham Hotspur Morgan Gibbs-White transfer – Explained Clearly
The summer transfer window saw a dramatic battle between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest over Morgan Gibbs-White, ending with the player signing a new contract with Forest. Here’s a breakdown of what happened, why the deal collapsed, and the mystery surrounding the release clause.
Spurs’ Big-Money Bid Above the Release Clause
Tottenham Hotspur Morgan Gibbs-White transfer bid fails, with add-ons, went beyond his £60 million release clause. In fact, the deal would have been bigger than the club’s record £65 million signing of Dominic Solanke. However, Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was furious, claiming Spurs had somehow learned about a release clause that was meant to be confidential.
Why Forest Rejected the Offer
Despite Spurs offering more than the release clause, Forest argued the first bid did not trigger all the conditions attached to the clause. The exact details of those conditions remain secret, with neither club explaining them publicly.Forest also accused Tottenham of making an “illegal approach” for the player and even threatened to report them to the Premier League — although they never followed through.
Spurs Tried Again – and Still Failed
Tottenham returned with an even bigger bid above the release clause, but Forest stood firm, once again rejecting the offer on the grounds that the approach was not legal.
Marinakis Convinces Gibbs-White to Stay
While the transfer saga played out, Gibbs-White continued training with Forest. In a private 30-minute meeting, Marinakis convinced the midfielder to sign a new contract, ending any hope Spurs had of signing him.
Reports suggest Tottenham were “shocked” by his decision to stay, believing it wasn’t motivated by money.
The Mystery Still Unsolved
No one knows exactly how Spurs found out about the release clause — or if they really did. It’s possible their bid accidentally matched it. To this day, Spurs, Forest, Gibbs-White’s representatives (CAA Base), and the Premier League have all refused to comment publicly. In a final twist, Gibbs-White even called Thomas Frank to apologise for the drama, but Frank told him there was nothing to apologise for.
