Tottenham activated the Gibbs-White buyout clause (£60 million), but Nottingham raised allegations of 'illegal contact and confidentiality breach,' leading to a complete halt of the transfer.
The BBC reported on the 11th (Korea time) that 'Tottenham activated the £60 million buyout clause (approximately 111.9 billion won) for Morgan Gibbs-White and began the medical testing procedure.' The player was scheduled to undergo medical tests as early as the 11th local time. However, the Nottingham club has suspended the transaction due to issues regarding the buyout.
According to the BBC, Manchester City also briefly considered acquiring Gibbs-White but withdrew its interest, and Tottenham finalized negotiations at a critical moment. This acquisition connects to the plans of Thomas Frank, who took over last month. Players including Kudus, as well as Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, who were previously managed by Frank, are reported to be included on Tottenham's scout list.
Gibbs-White is an attacking midfielder who connects attacks and penetrates the box, known for his strength in breakthroughs and counterattacks. He often showcases threatening dribbles with proactive ball touches, rapid speed, and balance under pressure, being adept at one-touch passes and quick passing connections.
In attack, he exhibits an active and aggressive style with decent productivity in statistics, but lacks creativity and game regulation ability, making it difficult to consider him a traditional playmaker. His goal-scoring ability is not as sharp as expected, and despite frequent box penetrations, he misses many opportunities. His use of the left foot is almost nonexistent, and his influence on the flanks is diminished, while his hot-headed nature often leads to unnecessary cautions. Overall, he is a linear attacking midfielder prioritizing speed and box penetration.
The BBC reported, 'Gibbs-White scored 7 goals and provided 8 assists in 34 Premier League matches last season and played a central role for Nottingham Forest. In recent months, top clubs in England have shown consistent interest, but he ultimately headed to Tottenham. With this transfer, another key asset from Nottingham has left the team following Antony Elanga's move to Newcastle.'
The report added, 'Tottenham has spent £115 million (approximately 214.3 billion won) in just one day, having acquired Kudus for £55 million (approximately 102.5 billion won) and paid £60 million for Gibbs-White.'
Sammy Mockbell from the BBC assessed this by stating, 'This is quite distant from Chairman Daniel Levy’s usual transfer strategy,' noting that 'it illustrates Tottenham’s summer transfer policy prioritizing experienced Premier League resources.'
The media explained, 'Gibbs-White, a product of Wolverhampton’s youth academy, transferred to Nottingham in August 2022 for the then club-record fee of £25 million plus options. Over three seasons, he recorded 18 goals and 28 assists in 118 matches, and was selected for the England national team ahead of this summer's transfer market. He made his international debut under interim manager Lee Carsley in September of last year against Ireland and later appeared in a friendly match against Senegal under manager Thomas Tuchel.'
However, ahead of finalizing the transfer, Nottingham suddenly halted the negotiation for Gibbs-White's transfer to Tottenham. The Nottingham club announced, 'We are consulting with lawyers for legal responses,' and stated, 'We have temporarily suspended all communications with Tottenham, and we are convinced that Tottenham contacted the player’s side without prior permission.'
The reason lies in the buyout clause. Tottenham is reported to have accurately presented the £60 million Gibbs-White buyout clause in its initial proposal. Sky Sports in the UK reported that 'Tottenham believes the confidentiality of the player’s release clause has leaked externally,' adding that 'the buyout amount of £60 million presented by Tottenham is at the heart of the controversy.'
The media emphasized, 'Nottingham is preparing to file an official complaint with the league office, which could significantly delay the transfer process. However, Gibbs-White still strongly hopes for the Tottenham transfer. It remains uncertain whether Nottingham can prevent this transfer.'
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