Man City Target Slips Away as Man Utd Face Transfer Roadblock—Summer Plans in Jeopardy
Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on Nottingham Forest's talented midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, who is also being pursued by Manchester City, though their revised salary structure could complicate talks for this deal and future signings.
Gibbs-White presents clear attraction as a target. Possessing a compelling combination of work rate and technical skill, the dynamic creator has regularly provided offensive output while featuring for a Nottingham Forest team frequently fighting relegation battles.
Following his transfer to the City Ground in 2022, the 26-year-old has recorded 28 Premier League assists—a figure surpassed by just five players across the league (Mohamed Salah, Bruno Fernandes, Bukayo Saka, Kevin De Bruyne, Martin Ødegaard).
United are believed to be "tracking" a potential move for Gibbs-White, according to the Daily Mail. Considering the quality of the established England international, the Red Devils face competition in their pursuit—Manchester City have similarly been linked with the attacking midfielder.
Indeed, the same report positions City as "the frontrunners" to secure Gibbs-White due to the "new financial reality" at United, which has witnessed the club implement a conscious effort to lower their wage spending.
Man Utd's Struggles to Sign Gibbs-White
Man Utd's Struggles to Sign Gibbs-White
The fact that Gibbs-White remains at Forest has caught many off guard. Reports emerged last July that Tottenham Hotspur had activated a £60 million ($81.3 million) release clause in his deal, a medical examination was arranged, and replica Spurs jerseys were being produced. Forest, though, had different plans.
Encouraged by a seventh-place Premier League campaign and the prospect of European competition, the Tricky Trees responded and ultimately persuaded Gibbs-White to commit to a new three-year contract extension just 16 days afterward.
That agreement featured an uncomfortably staged announcement video, with club owner Evangelos Marinakis prominently featured throughout. "There was considerable interest from multiple clubs," Marinakis reflected, "but we were committed to constructing our future with Morgan as the centerpiece." The deal also included a substantial salary increase.
The Mail reports that Gibbs-White earns a weekly wage around £150,000—which, under Manchester United's restructured pay scale, allegedly matches the compensation of players like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško. In an effort to protect their long-term financial stability, United are no longer prepared to overspend on the immediate excitement of a high-wage acquisition.
The elimination of this advantage could place them at a "significant disadvantage" in the competition for Gibbs-White as well as his Forest colleague Elliot Anderson and any other Premier League player currently earning substantial wages. Given the financial resources available to clubs in England's top division, virtually every team can manage to support one or two premium earners.
Are Man Utd in Danger of Becoming the New Spurs?
Are Man Utd in Danger of Becoming the New Spurs?
It's notable that this development coincides with the publication of United's recent financial statements. The club made a prominent display of highlighting the savings achieved through the harsh elimination of 450 non-playing staff positions, and now it appears they have finally directed their cost-cutting measures toward the players' salary budget.
This was the strategy Tottenham employed under Daniel Levy. Rigorous management of the club's wage expenditure kept Spurs financially sound, providing them the foundation to build one of the world's finest stadiums while maintaining their status among the wealthiest clubs globally. Nevertheless, it also restricted their appeal in the transfer market—as the Gibbs-White situation just last summer illustrated.
Following the exits of two exceptional talents in Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Spurs have found themselves in back-to-back relegation fights. So troubled is the club by this concerning sequence that they intend to "overhaul" their existing wage structure, according to The Guardian.
United, who are undertaking a comprehensive renovation of Old Trafford, seem to be pursuing the same financial approach as their London counterparts.
Nevertheless, there is one advantage for the Red Devils that Spurs cannot claim: their prestige. The lasting appeal of Manchester United can withstand any contemporary challenges. This is a club that will participate in just 40 matches across all competitions this season, yet they remain the aspirational destination for countless players. After finishing 15th without European football last season, United still managed to outmaneuver competing Premier League clubs to secure players like Mbeumo and Cunha on lower wages than other teams were prepared to offer.
"Once I learned there was a possibility to join Manchester United, I had to seize the chance to sign for the club of my dreams; the team whose jersey I wore as a child," Mbeumo expressed upon his signing. Whether that appeal proves more attractive than a generous salary for every player will be revealed in upcoming transfer periods.