In the summer of 2025, Tottenham thought they had Morgan Gibbs-White. They had triggered his £60m release clause at Nottingham Forest, only for the England midfielder to re-sign with the club on a record contract within days and stay at the City Ground.

A year on, Gibbs-White is back on Spurs’ radar, and this time the push is coming from the new man in the dugout. According to a TEAMtalk report by Graeme Bailey, Roberto De Zerbi is “particularly keen” on bringing the 26-year-old to north London in January and sees him as the creative addition his side still lacks.

De Zerbi joined Spurs in March on a five-year deal to replace Igor Tudor, and his early weeks in charge have begun to clarify which existing midfielders he intends to build around. James Maddison and Conor Gallagher, TEAMtalk reports, are not among them: the Italian is said to be unconvinced that either will become a major part of his long-term plans.

Forest will not sell in January

Nottingham Forest are not open for business. Bailey reports that the club, under head coach Oliver Glasner, view Gibbs-White as central to their project and will not entertain a January departure.

Read also: Eddy Merckx admits Tadej Pogacar has surpassed him as cycling’s greatest

“Forest have no intention of losing one of their most important players, but interest from two Premier League heavyweights is gathering pace,” Bailey writes.

The second of those heavyweights is Manchester United, who are also described in the TEAMtalk report as admirers. Gibbs-White’s contract at the City Ground runs until 2028, meaning any club trying to force a mid-season sale would have to pay a premium, if Forest sanctioned one at all.

Maddison and Gallagher drift out of the picture

Gibbs-White’s form gives Spurs’ interest its logic. In 2025-26 he produced 18 goals and seven assists in 53 appearances across all competitions for Forest, including 15 in the Premier League.

For Maddison and Gallagher, the reporting indicates more than squad rotation. Both are described as not forming part of De Zerbi’s long-term thinking, and neither has publicly addressed their standing under the new head coach.

Read also: Scotland chase first-ever win over New Zealand after 121 years of hurt

No bid has been made. The January window is the first point at which De Zerbi can act on the shortlist he is said to have built.

Read also: Fabrizio Romano reveals Man Utd want new no. 9 regardless of Michael Carrick’s future