Nottingham Forest’s “star player” Morgan Gibbs-White is one of several options Manchester City will consider as a possible replacement for Kevin De Bruyne in the summer, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein. De Bruyne, 33, announced he would be leaving Manchester City on April 4 after ten seasons and 414 games with the club, bringing about the end of an incredible spell that included six Premier League titles and the 2022/23 treble-winning campaign.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White Amongst Manchester City Options to Replace Kevin de Bruyne
Manchester City Interested in Morgan Gibbs-White
The hole left behind by the Belgian will be tough to fill, and according to Ornstein, Manchester City are looking at both internal and external options to replenish Pep Guardiola’s squad.
City’s new sporting director, Hugo Viana, only officially started working at the club on April 7, and it is reported that possible summer transfers will not be prioritised until the Portuguese has been properly integrated into the role.
Read More: Nottingham Forest Summer Signings Ranked
Forest playmaker Gibbs-White, 25, is expected to be “among options” discussed alongside Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. The German is likely to be more of an expensive option than the England international, with Leverkusen reportedly valuing the in-demand 21-year-old at €150 million.
Why Is Gibbs-White in Demand?
The 25-year-old has had a stellar season, scoring five goals and recording seven assists as Forest have defied all expectations to fight for Champions League qualification. He has been a consistent performer for the Tricky Trees since his club-record £37m move from boyhood club Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2022.
The attacking midfielder hasn’t missed a single game through injury during his time at the City Ground, and is a constant source of creativity in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. He has also taken on the captain’s armband on numerous occasions in Ryan Yates’s absence.
Only Murillo (1,144) has made more passes for Forest this season than Gibbs-White’s 977, with the midfielder also taking the second-most shots of any Forest player.
Read More: Champions League Football Very Likely: Analysing Nottingham Forest’s Run-In
Gibbs-White earned his first call-up to the England senior team in September 2024, making his debut in a 2-0 win over Ireland on September 7. Although he was initially left out of Thomas Tuchel’s first squad as England coach in March to the surprise of many, he was eventually called up after Cole Palmer dropped out due to injury.
It has been a monumental rise for the 25-year-old, whose breakthrough season came whilst on loan at Sheffield United in the Championship in the 2021/22 season, and although Wolves fans may have been slightly aggrieved by his decision to join Forest, it has been a resounding success.
What Is Gibbs-White’s Contract Situation?
Forest’s number ten signed a five-year contract when he joined the Reds in 2022, so will not be out of contract until the summer of 2027. There is therefore little pressure on the Midlands club to sell their talisman, putting them in a strong bargaining position.
The promise of Champions League football would also ease any financial concerns for Forest, and this looks even more likely now that it has been confirmed that a fifth-place finish will result in qualification for Europe’s premier competition.
