Newcastle United transfer blow as £60m target set for contract U-turn after England call

Nottingham Forest are set to open contract negotiations with Morgan Gibbs-White, according to reports.

Newcastle United had been linked with a £60million move for the midfielder earlier this year. Gibbs-White particularly caught the end during Forest’s shock 3-1 win at St James’ Park last season.

Eyebrows were raised when the Tricky Trees paid £42.5million to sign the 24-year-old from Wolverhampton Wanderers two years ago. However, Gibbs-White has since developed into an established Premier League performer in a relegation-threatened outfit.

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While he can play out wide, his predominant position is as a No.10, a role Newcastle do not have in their ranks. Only Bukayo Saka has created more chances than Gibbs-White this season, a statistic that earned him a maiden England call-up for the upcoming double-header against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.

But the Magpies could hit a wall in any future attempt to sign the midfielder should he pen a new contract. The Daily Mail claim Forest are keen to tie down their star asset, who has two-and-a-half years remaining on his current deal.

It is stated that Gibbs-White has no intention of moving despite reports in the summer suggesting he was open to a Toon switch. Aston Villa were also understood to be keeping an arm’s length on the situation. 

Forest hope to keep Gibbs-White at the City Ground by making him one of the club’s top earners. A lot could depend on how the Tricky Trees fare throughout the campaign, with Nuno Espirito Santo guiding them to an unbeaten Premier League start.