Nottingham Forest’s true motive behind Morgan Gibbs-White noise is good news for Tottenham
Nottingham Forest appear to have accepted that losing Morgan Gibbs-White to Tottenham Hotspur is inevitable, but the way they’ve responded publicly reveals a deeper motive rooted in optics and internal politics rather than a genuine attempt to block the transfer.
While it may seem on the surface that Forest are trying to halt the deal, the reality is that their protest to the Premier League serves a more strategic purpose. The club’s leadership, aware that retaining Gibbs-White is unlikely, aims to portray resistance in a bid to protect their image among supporters who fear watching yet another key player leave.
According to fresh insight from The Athletic, the East Midlands club took issue not simply with the impending departure of their star midfielder, but with how confidential details of the deal surfaced—particularly the leak of his release clause.
Forest’s formal complaint about Tottenham’s alleged unauthorized approach is less about reversing the transfer and more about buying time. The club knows that Spurs are determined to land Gibbs-White and that the player himself is open to the move, which makes a full block nearly impossible.
Instead, Forest’s escalation to the Premier League seems designed to show strength and assertiveness, especially in the wake of selling Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United for £52 million.
Forest’s leadership doesn’t want to appear complacent in losing their most influential player. They need fans to believe the club did everything in its power to retain Gibbs-White, even if the behind-the-scenes reality suggests otherwise.
Making noise through legal channels helps build that perception. By showing resistance, they’re cushioning the inevitable blow, sending a message to the fan base that the club values its stars and doesn’t give them up without a fight, even if that fight is largely performative.
The situation also appears to have a personal dimension. Reports indicate that Evangelos Marinakis, Forest’s owner, is furious over how Tottenham orchestrated the move.
His reaction may stem less from the transfer itself and more from the manner in which it was executed—particularly the leaking of sensitive contract details. The aggressive response might reflect a bruised ego as much as it does a strategic move for the club.
Marinakis, known for his hands-on leadership and strong personality, would not have taken kindly to being undermined or surprised by another Premier League club.
For Tottenham, however, the noise coming from Forest could actually work in their favor. The delay may create the illusion of difficulty, but with no serious legal grounds to completely block the move, Spurs remain confident they can finalize the signing.
The longer the saga drags on, the more it will serve as evidence of Tottenham’s persistence and negotiation strength. At the same time, Forest’s posturing could ease internal pressure by making it appear as though the club was forced into the sale rather than complicit in it.
In the grand scheme, this appears to be a carefully managed situation on both sides. Forest are using public resistance to control the narrative and protect their standing with supporters, while Tottenham continue to push quietly behind the scenes for a player they see as a valuable addition to their squad.
When the dust settles, Gibbs-White is still expected to arrive in North London, but not before Forest make it clear to their fans that they exhausted every avenue—whether real or symbolic—to keep him.