Tottenham Hotspur remain confident of securing the signing of Morgan Gibbs-White despite unexpected complications that have delayed the transfer.
The midfielder was reportedly set to travel to London on Friday for a medical after Spurs triggered a £60 million release clause in his contract. Gibbs-White, who has long been eyeing a Champions League level move, was excited about the opportunity and viewed it as a natural next step in his career.
However, Softfootball learned that the deal hit a sudden roadblock when Nottingham Forest raised concerns over how Tottenham came to know the exact value of the confidential release clause.
Forest are now exploring legal options, claiming that they never disclosed the clause details to Spurs or any intermediaries. The club has reportedly halted all communication with Tottenham and temporarily withdrawn from negotiations.
Despite the disruption, Tottenham are maintaining a calm and measured approach. While they have not made public statements, sources close to the club indicate they are confident they followed appropriate channels and do not believe Forest will succeed in blocking the transfer.
Flashscore reported that a key factor in the dispute is the lack of direct club-to-club communication. While some release clauses are made public, others such as Gibbs-White’s are kept confidential, and Forest believe their internal confidentiality has been breached.
Forest are particularly frustrated that the bid, as Softfootball earlier reported, came just hours after Spurs finalised a £55 million deal for Mohammed Kudus, suggesting to them that Spurs may have been acting on undisclosed information.
Tottenham are determined to resolve the situation and are optimistic that Gibbs-White will be part of their squad before the new Premier League season begins. The club sees him as a high-value addition due to his Premier League experience, versatility, and attacking energy.
Gibbs-White was a standout performer for Forest last season and had attracted interest earlier in the summer from Manchester City, who eventually turned their focus elsewhere.
Tottenham have already spent around £150 million this transfer window, bringing in the likes of Mathys Tel, Mohammed Kudus, and Kota Takai. They are also in the market for a defensive midfielder and expect more signings before the transfer deadline.
