Morgan Gibbs-White just finished the kind of Premier League season that makes scouts drool and accountants sweat. Fifteen goals, four assists, a Player of the Month award in April — and a contract that runs through 2028. The England playmaker is the hottest name in the attacking midfield market this summer, but the two clubs most desperate for his skill set might be priced out before they even get serious.
Arsenal and Manchester United are both reportedly tracking the 26-year-old. According to industry sources close to the agents’ network, the list of admirers also includes Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and several clubs from Europe. But unlike a typical bidding war where the player’s camp holds leverage, here Nottingham Forest are digging in.
Forest’s position is clear: Gibbs-White is not for sale cheap
After already waving goodbye to Elliot Anderson in what is expected to be a massive outgoing deal, Forest have drawn a red line. They simply cannot afford to lose another primary creator in the same window. Sky Sports has confirmed that Arsenal have Gibbs-White on their shortlist, but the club has not indicated they will meet Forest’s asking price — rumored to be in the range of €70 million, per Transfermarkt.
That valuation is not arbitrary. Gibbs-White was not just a stat-padder; he was the engine of Forest’s attack. His 15 league goals came in bursts — four of them in three April matches alone, earning him Premier League Player of the Month honors last April. His numbers reflect a player who is direct, aggressive in transition, and comfortable carrying the ball into the most dangerous areas of the pitch.
For Arsenal, the fit is intuitive. Mikel Arteta has been hunting for a midfielder who can unlock low blocks and provide genuine goal threat from between the lines. For Manchester United, the appeal is equally straightforward: a Premier League-proven creator who presses with energy and delivers end product. But both clubs may have to decide whether Gibbs-White is worth the kind of fee that would make him one of the most expensive midfielders of the summer.
Fans online have noted that if Forest were to sell, they would likely demand a package that includes add-ons pushing the total north of €80 million. That would place him in the same financial conversation as Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal — a price point that even the richest Premier League clubs hesitate to pay for a player who turns 27 early next season.
The subplot here is the calendar. The transfer window is still young, but Forest’s resolve is not. If Arsenal or United want to land Gibbs-White, they will have to act decisively and pay big. Otherwise, this could become one of those summer sagas that drags into August — and ultimately leaves both clubs looking elsewhere.
For now, the ball is in the buyers’ court. But Forest are making it clear: they will not abandon their star without a fight.
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