Spurs made new Gibbs-White bid after Forest's legal threat

Tottenham Hotspur’s attempt to sign Morgan Gibbs-White collapsed in dramatic fashion after Nottingham Forest challenged their approach. Spurs believed they had met the midfielder’s £60 million release clause in July, but Forest denied this and accused them of an unsolicited approach, threatening legal action.

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The England international was reportedly interested in the move, but signed a new contract with Forest after talks with the club’s hierarchy. Reports suggest that Spurs even made a second, improved bid after the dispute began, but Forest stood firm.

Sources claim Forest were angered that Tottenham knew about the confidential clause in Gibbs-White’s contract, adding to the tension between the clubs.

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Following the breakdown of the deal, Gibbs-White reportedly phoned Tottenham manager Thomas Frank to apologise for the sudden change of heart.

Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, is said to have played a crucial role in convincing the player to stay during a meeting in Portugal. The meeting, combined with concerns about the release clause terms, led to Gibbs-White committing his future to the club.

If the move had succeeded, he would have been in Spurs’ squad to face Burnley on Saturday. Instead, he will line up for Forest in their match against Brentford, while Tottenham now turn their attention to Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze as their next midfield target.