Morgan Gibbs-White is routinely barracked when he returns to Molineux but the Nottingham Forest star now has far bigger things to worry about than a few thousand angry Wolves fans.
There was widespread surprise in summer 2022 when Forest paid an initial £25million, rising to a possible £42.5m, for a player who was unproven in the Premier League. Not anymore.
Gibbs-White is one of the key players in a Forest side who have been the feelgood story of the season. Reviving memories of the Brian Clough era, Forest have won at Anfield and Old Trafford, beaten Tottenham and Aston Villa, and drawn with Chelsea.
Ahead of Monday’s trip to Molineux, Forest are third in the table and firmly on course for European football next season – perhaps even in the Champions League.
The flip side, however, is that teams who surpass expectations will always have wealthier clubs becoming interested in their players. Gibbs-White is no different and he will certainly be aware of his admirers.
Mail Sport understands Liverpool are one of several clubs with a keen interest in Gibbs-White’s progress. Newcastle and Aston Villa also made tentative enquiries last summer and Manchester City were aware of Gibbs-White, who is from Staffordshire, even before he made his senior debut as a 16-year-old, Forest’s priority is to agree a new contract with him.
Morgan Gibbs-White is shining for Nottingham Forest as the club target Champions League qualification
Gibbs-White is one of the key players in a Forest side who have been the feelgood story of the season
Gibbs-White has turned into an elite player at Forest and is key to their success this season
Despite his importance to the team, Gibbs-White is thought to be some way down Forest’s pay scale, with Chris Wood leading the way on a basic £100,000 a week.
Wood’s contract expires at the end of the season and Forest’s top scorer is now free to agree terms with clubs outside England.
Gibbs-White signed his deal when Forest had only just been promoted from the Championship and it is thought to be worth about £60,000 a week. It is reasonable to assume that any new arrangement would need to elevate Gibbs-White to the top of the tree.
Gibbs-White’s contract expires in summer 2027 and no club likes to let their star players enter the final two years of a deal. Though there is plenty of time to agree new terms, the sooner Forest can tie down Gibbs-White, the easier their supporters will breathe.
Forest’s No10 turns 25 later this month and earned a first call-up to the full England squad earlier this year.
His football mentality – train hard, play hard, demand more from your team-mates, overcome setbacks – is at the elite level and those who understand Gibbs-White’s game best believe he has taken a step forward this term. Just as importantly, he is a more mature character off the field, too.
At Wolves and during his early days at Forest, Mail Sport understands that Gibbs-White could be charming on some days, a little less so on others.
In the last year, Gibbs-White has turned from boy to man. It is thought he has grasped the idea fully that a Premier League footballer’s job is not restricted to training and matches.
There are other responsibilities, too, and Forest staff have been delighted with Gibbs-White after encouraging him to study the example set by global stars like Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
His partner, Britney De Villiers, gave birth to the couple’s first child, son Greyson, in November 2023, and the family moved to a new home in the Nottingham area not long ago.
Gibbs-White will return to his former club Wolves when the two sides meet on Monday evening
It is thought Wolves are due 10 per cent of the profit if Gibbs-White is sold by Forest
Coaches speak glowingly about how Gibbs-White takes time to advise the club’s academy players. With Forest flying, player and club seem perfect for each other.
Yet every youngster dreams of testing themselves for the world’s most successful clubs at the sharp end of the greatest competitions. Do not be surprised if there are enquiries for Gibbs-White this month and, even if no official bid is presented, that interest will not wane unless the player commits his future to Forest. If he does not, it promises to be an interesting summer.
It is thought Wolves are due 10 per cent of the profit if Gibbs-White is sold and it is worth remembering Forest turned down bids of about £50m from Newcastle for Anthony Elanga last summer. Brennan Johnson joined Tottenham for about £47.5m in summer 2023 and Gibbs-White is valued well in excess of that.
Gibbs-White loves to give a bit back to the Wolves supporters who berate him and brings out his ‘fingers in ears’ celebration whenever he does well against his former club. He and Forest are dreaming big. Time will tell if they realise their ambitions together.
