April 27, 2025; Anfield, Liverpool, BRITAIN; Liverpool player Mohamed Salah scores the fourth goal against the Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League match. Mandatory Credit: Phil Noble/Reuters via Imagn Images

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Morgan Gibbs-White Transfer to Tottenham on Hold As Nottingham Forest Consider Legal Action Against Spurs

While Tottenham are said to be aware of Forest’s concerns, they remain hopeful the transfer can still be concluded.

Nottingham Forest attacker Morgan Gibbs-White’s proposed £60 million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur has hit a dramatic roadblock. Forest are now considering legal action over what they allege to be a breach of confidentiality and Premier League rules by Spurs.

Sources revealed that Forest are furious with Tottenham’s conduct in their pursuit of the England international and are actively consulting lawyers about their next steps. Nottingham Forest insist that Spurs did not have permission to speak with the player and are also probing whether a specific confidentiality clause in Gibbs-White’s release clause has been violated.

The 25-year-old midfielder was set to undergo a medical with Tottenham on Friday after Spurs triggered his £60m release clause. However, the deal has now been placed on hold as Forest prepare a potential formal complaint to the Premier League and consider litigation options.

BREAKING: Nottingham Forest consider Morgan Gibbs-White's proposed move to Tottenham Hotspur to be off for now, while they consult their lawyers over potential legal action 🚨 pic.twitter.com/dcJKAWnhSH
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 11, 2025

What Are the Premier League Rules?

In the Premier League, clubs cannot negotiate with a player under contract with another club without that club’s permission. If a player’s contract is expiring within six months, other clubs can legally open negotiations, but only for a potential free transfer when the contract ends. For domestic transfers, clubs must wait until the last month of the player’s contract before engaging in negotiations for a pre-contract agreement. Under Premier League regulations, a club must receive express permission before negotiating with a player under contract at another club.

Forest argue that no such permission was granted. As a result, it looks likely that the situation will now spiral into a serious escalation. While Tottenham are said to be aware of Forest’s concerns, they remain hopeful the transfer can still be concluded, and have so far declined to comment on the matter publicly.

Gibbs-White has emerged as a vital player for Nottingham Forest since his £42.5m move from Wolves in 2022, registering 18 goals and 28 assists across 118 appearances. He also made his senior England debut in 2024 and remains one of the Premier League’s most in-demand attacking midfielder.

Tottenham recently signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham for £55m. Spurs are also keeping tabs on Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, and Southampton’s Tyler Dibling as they continue to reshape their squad under new head coach Thomas Frank.

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Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.