Tottenham's Morgan Gibbs-White stance made clear as Nottingham Forest consider legal action
by Alasdair Gold, Keith Wales · NottinghamshireLiveNottingham Forest have been rocked by the potential loss of playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The London club has activated what is said to be a £60m release clause in the England player's contract, prompting the Reds to report Spurs to the Premier League and threaten legal action over what they consider an illegal approach. But what is the Londoner's stance on the deal now that it seems to be getting nasty? Alasdair Gold, the Spurs correspondent for our sister website football.london sets it out...
Tottenham want to proceed with their move for Morgan Gibbs-White, despite it currently sitting in limbo as Nottingham Forest consider legal action over what they perceive to be an illegal approach.
Spurs were set to trigger a £60m release clause for the 25-year-old England international with a medical to be held on Friday. However, the transfer has now hit a road block as Forest have reportedly cut off communications with Tottenham at this time as they believe they did not give permission for the north London club to approach Gibbs-White, despite the release clause aspect.
Forest are also said to believe the confidentiality of the release clause has been breached as Spurs' approach for Gibbs-White was exactly what was required.
football.london understands that Tottenham still want to proceed with the deal but Forest are believed to be preparing a complaint to the Premier League which could at the least delay any move from going through.
It is unclear at this time whether Forest could block the transfer completely, but there is a feeling within the Midlands club that they could be powerless to stop the transfer should Spurs do it all through the proper channels.
New Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank decided while at Brentford that Gibbs-White could be the perfect number 10 within his system, while also able to play in a deeper central midfield role as well as on the wing if required.
Frank's assistant Justin Cochrane has worked with Gibbs-White within the England set-up and now the duo will work with him at Spurs.
If they can still push through with the deal for the midfielder it will complete a £120m transfer hat-trick at the club with Spurs having sealed a £55m move for West Ham attacker Mohammed Kudus after completing a £5m transfer earlier this week for Japan international centre-back Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale.