Tottenham Hit With Official Complaint Over Alleged Illegal Pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White

Nottingham Forest have formally lodged accusations against Tottenham Hotspur for conducting an "unauthorized approach" regarding their star midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, according to recent reports.

In an unexpected development, Spurs allegedly activated the £60 million ($81.5 million) buyout clause present in Gibbs-White's deal. This led to Nottingham Forest becoming furious and contemplating legal proceedings against their Premier League counterparts over their conduct.

Forest have now made this grievance official, as reported by The Times. The team that secured seventh place in the previous Premier League campaign argues that Tottenham could only have learned the precise amount of Gibbs-White's buyout clause through a "confidentiality violation".

This formal complaint to the Premier League has "suspended" all transfer activities. Gibbs-White's medical examination at Tottenham was arranged for the previous Friday, yet the club's deputy captain subsequently attended Forest's pre-season practice on Monday.

No specific timeframe exists for the Premier League's ruling, though historical cases suggest Gibbs-White's situation remains highly uncertain. Liverpool faced similar allegations from Southampton regarding their pursuit of Virgil van Dijk in 2017. The Merseyside club was forced to issue a public apology and delay their acquisition by six months before ultimately signing the Netherlands centre-back.

Nottingham Forest Line Up Gibbs-White Replacement

Despite the strong possibility of Gibbs-White's departure this summer, Forest are believed to have accelerated their hunt for a successor. Interest in Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey has been suggested by The Telegraph.

Reports indicate "sustained" interest in Ramsey, whose potential signing isn't contingent on Gibbs-White's exit, given the gap created by Anthony Elanga's confirmed transfer to Newcastle United this summer.

Ramsey featured in only half of Villa's Premier League fixtures during the previous season. Physical setbacks contributed—a hamstring problem during the campaign kept him out for nearly two months—while manager Unai Emery typically preferred players like Morgan Rogers.