Morgan Gibbs-White and Nottingham Forest are dreaming big after a flying start to the season… the in-form midfielder has more important concerns than angry Wolves fans, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE
Morgan Gibbs-White is routinely locked up when he returns to Molineux, but the Nottingham Forest star now has much bigger things on his mind than a few thousand angry Wolves fans.
There was widespread surprise in the summer of 2022 when Forest initially paid £25 million, rising to £42.5 million, for a player who was unproven in the Premier League. Not anymore.
Gibbs-White is one of the key players in a Forest side that has been the feel-good story of the season. Forest revive memories of the Brian Clough era by winning at Anfield and Old Trafford, beating Tottenham and Aston Villa and drawing with Chelsea.
Ahead of Monday’s visit to Molineux, Forest sit third in the standings and are firmly on course for European football next season – perhaps even in the Champions League.
The downside, however, is that teams that exceed expectations will always have richer clubs who become interested in their players. Gibbs-White is no different and he will certainly be aware of his admirers.
Mail Sport understands Liverpool are one of several clubs with a keen interest in Gibbs-White’s progress. Newcastle and Aston Villa also made cautious inquiries last summer and Manchester City were aware of Gibbs-White, who hails from Staffordshire, even before he made his debut as a 16-year-old. Forest’s priority is to agree a new contract with him. .
Morgan Gibbs-White stars for Nottingham Forest as the club focuses on Champions League qualification
Gibbs-White is one of the key players in a Forest side that has been the feel-good story of the season
Gibbs-White has become an elite player for Forest and is key to their success this season
Despite his importance to the team, Gibbs-White is believed to be well down the Forest pay scale, with Chris Wood leading the way on a base fee of £100,000 per week.
Wood’s contract expires at the end of the season and Forest’s top scorer is now free to agree terms with clubs outside England.
Gibbs-White signed his deal when Forest had only just been promoted from the Championship and the deal is said to be worth around £60,000 per week. It’s fair to assume that any new arrangement would have to lift Gibbs-White to the top of the tree.
Gibbs-White’s contract expires in the summer of 2027 and no club likes to let their star players enter the final two years of a contract. While there is plenty of time to agree new terms, Forest will breathe faster if Forest can secure Gibbs-White.
Forest’s number 10 turns 25 later this month and was called up to the full England squad for the first time earlier this year.
His football mentality – train hard, play hard, demand more from your teammates, overcome adversity – is at an elite level and those who best understand Gibbs-White’s game believe he has taken a step forward this season. Just as importantly, he is a more mature character off the field too.
At Wolves and during his early days at Forest, Mail Sport understands that Gibbs-White can be charming on some days, less so on others.
Over the past year, Gibbs-White has gone from boy to man. He is thought to have fully grasped the idea that a Premier League footballer’s job is not limited to training and matches.
There are other responsibilities too, and the Forest staff are delighted with Gibbs-White after encouraging him to study the example of world stars such as Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
His partner, Britney De Villiers, gave birth to the couple’s first child, son Greyson, in November 2023, and the family moved to a new home in the Nottingham area not long ago.
Gibbs-White returns to his former club Wolves on Monday evening when the two sides meet
It is thought Wolves will be owed 10 per cent of profits if Gibbs-White is sold by Forest
Coaches speak highly of how Gibbs-White takes the time to advise the club’s youth academy players. With Forest Flying, player and club seem perfect for each other.
Yet every youngster dreams of testing themselves for the world’s most successful clubs at the sharp end of the biggest competitions. Don’t be surprised if there are questions about Gibbs-White this month and even if no official offer is made, that interest won’t diminish unless the player commits his future to Forest. If he doesn’t, it’s going to be an interesting summer.
It is thought Wolves will be owed 10 per cent of profits if Gibbs-White is sold and it is worth remembering that Forest rejected a bid of around £50m from Newcastle for Anthony Elanga last summer. Brennan Johnson joined Tottenham in the summer of 2023 for around £47.5 million and Gibbs-White is valued well above that.
Gibbs-White likes to give something back to the Wolves supporters who boo him and celebrate his ‘fingers in the ears’ when he does well against his former club. He and Forest dream big. Time will tell whether they achieve their ambitions together.