Manchester City’s pursuit of Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White has taken a significant turn this week, according to reports.
The development follows the publication of claims in all major football media outlets that an agreement has been reached between Etihad Stadium administrators and their counterparts at AC Milan.
That deal concerns the upcoming sale of Netherlands international Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City, who have committed to spending an initial £46.3 million on the 26-year-old, who will most likely be their first official summer move.
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City staff also anticipate that the many legalities and processes will be completed in time for Reijnders to make the move to the Etihad Stadium in time for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup.
However, while that is no doubt reason for supporters to get excited as another of the game’s very best midfield operators joins the Premier League, it seems as though it may have spelt the end of another potential transfer.
As a direct result of the agreement for Tijjani Reijnders, and according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, a move from Manchester City this summer for Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White can now be deemed as ‘unlikely’.
The England international was originally viewed as one of Manchester City’s primary targets coming into the summer transfer window, and the widespread belief was that Etihad bosses would emerge as frontrunners for the player’s signature.
At the time of those reports, the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United were mentioned as possible competitors in the race for Gibbs-White, but there is currently no indication that either club would now swoop in to take advantage of City’s development regarding the player.
For now, Manchester City will remain active in the summer transfer window and are likely to aim to finalise two deals for Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and Lyon’s Rayan Cherki in the coming days – and in time for the Club World Cup.
