Tottenham prepare £125m Gibbs-White gamble as relegation fears grow

By Ihuoma Inyama

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to revive their pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White in January, with the England international now carrying a reported £125 million valuation.

The proposed move would represent a dramatic escalation from Spurs’ previous attempt to sign the 26-year-old and could make Gibbs-White the most expensive player in Tottenham’s history.

According to Football Insider, Tottenham have retained their interest in Gibbs-White and could return with a major offer when the January transfer window opens.

The reported interest comes at a difficult moment for Spurs, who have endured a poor start to the Premier League campaign and are currently at the bottom of the table without a league victory.

Tottenham spent heavily during the summer in an attempt to rebuild their squad, including a club-record move for Sandro Tonali. However, the spending has yet to produce the expected results, leaving the club facing renewed concerns over a potential relegation battle.

Gibbs-White has emerged as a possible solution to Tottenham’s lack of creativity in attack.

Spurs came close to signing the midfielder previously after triggering a £60 million release clause at Forest. The deal eventually collapsed following a dispute surrounding the circumstances of the approach, with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis reportedly threatening legal action.

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Gibbs-White subsequently remained at the City Ground and signed a new contract with Forest.

That new deal has significantly changed the financial picture. Reports now put Forest’s valuation of the player at around £125 million more than double the figure involved in Tottenham’s previous pursuit.

Such a fee would take Gibbs-White beyond Tonali as Tottenham’s record signing and put the England international among the most expensive players ever transferred in the Premier League.

The midfielder’s stock has also continued to rise. Gibbs-White was recently called into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad after Cole Palmer withdrew ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures. 

For Tottenham, however, the potential deal would carry significant financial implications.

The club have already invested heavily in their squad, and committing another £125 million in January would place even greater pressure on their recruitment strategy as they attempt to turn their season around.

Forest, meanwhile, have little obvious reason to part with one of their key players midway through the campaign, particularly after securing him on an improved long-term contract.

Tottenham’s interest in Gibbs-White therefore appears to be entering a very different phase from their previous pursuit: Spurs may still want the player, but getting him could now require one of the biggest transfer fees in Premier League history