What was set to be Tottenham Hotspur’s second blockbuster signing of the summer is now at the centre of an escalating legal dispute.
Nottingham Forest have accused Spurs of making an illegal approach for Morgan Gibbs-White, and are reportedly preparing a formal complaint to the Premier League. Despite Tottenham triggering the midfielder’s £60 million release clause, Forest are now attempting to stall the deal — and possibly set a precedent for how such negotiations are handled.
💣 Forest Cut Off All Contact, Seek Legal Advice
According to Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett, Forest have cut off all communications with Tottenham and believe the North London club violated league protocol by speaking to Gibbs-White without official permission.
Forest are now consulting lawyers, and Fabrizio Romano confirms that the club is considering submitting a formal complaint to the Premier League. John Percy of The Telegraph and BBC’s Sami Mokbel have also reported that Forest view Tottenham’s approach as improper, and as of now, consider the deal to be off.
Forest officials are said to be furious with how the situation has unfolded, particularly the timing and structure of Tottenham’s bid, which they believe reflects unauthorised prior contact.
🔐 The Confidential Release Clause at the Centre of the Storm
Tottenham’s £60 million bid for Gibbs-White exactly matches the value of the player’s release clause — a figure that, while legally binding, was intended to remain confidential. Forest believe the clause was leaked from the player’s camp, and that Spurs exploited that information to make a bid without initiating formal contact with the club.
This is the heart of Forest’s legal stance: that Spurs knew the clause’s terms without permission, likely via direct contact with Gibbs-White’s representatives, constituting an unauthorised approach under Premier League rules.
Though release clauses empower players to negotiate freely if the valuation is met, they are typically not public knowledge unless disclosed — making this potential leak, and how Spurs acted on it, the foundation of Forest’s legal case.
❌ Deal “Off” — But Can Forest Actually Stop It?
While Forest have declared the deal “off” in its current form, it remains legally unclear whether they can actually prevent it from going through.
If Tottenham have properly triggered the release clause, the player is legally entitled to speak to them. Forest may believe their confidentiality has been breached, but unless they can prove Spurs engaged in direct talks before the clause was met, the transfer could still proceed.
In short: Forest may be able to delay the deal, but blocking it altogether will be difficult without hard evidence of rule-breaking.
🧠 Thomas Frank Still Pushing to Land His Key Target
Despite the chaos, Spurs remain keen to get the deal over the line. New head coach Thomas Frank has made Gibbs-White one of his top priorities for this summer, and the club remains confident that the legal threat will not derail the transfer permanently.
Gibbs-White is reportedly open to the move, and Fabrizio Romano previously confirmed that Spurs had booked a medical for the 25-year-old to take place Friday — though that could now be delayed pending legal clarification.
📝 What Are Tottenham’s Options?
Spurs now face several paths forward:
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Cooperate with the Premier League, clarify the timeline of communications, and argue the release clause was triggered legally.
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Re-enter negotiations with Forest, although this may be politically toxic given the current breakdown in trust.
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Wait for the legal process to unfold, which could delay the transfer beyond its original schedule — and risk Forest trying to renegotiate or restructure the deal.
The club’s legal team will likely be involved to ensure they have not breached any protocol, and Spurs will aim to minimise disruption to the player and the wider transfer strategy.
⚖️ Could This Set a Precedent?
This standoff could have significant ramifications. As more players have release clauses inserted into their contracts, confidentiality breaches and “pre-bid contact” may become increasingly controversial.
If Forest succeed in proving that Spurs acted outside the rules, it could result in a fine or formal warning, and potentially force clubs to rethink how they operate around clauses in the future.
However, if the Premier League sides with Spurs, it would confirm that once a clause is met, the club has no grounds to object — even if they suspect the process wasn’t clean.
🔚 Final Word: A Tense Legal Battle, But Not the End
Morgan Gibbs-White to Spurs is not dead, but it is now on ice. Legal friction, not footballing disagreement, has halted the deal. Tottenham still want the player, the player is believed to be open to the move, and the release clause offers a legal foundation.
What remains to be seen is whether Forest can successfully delay — or derail — the transfer through legal means. If not, expect Tottenham to still get their man — just later than originally expected.
Stay with WeAreTottenhamTV for full reaction, legal analysis, and updates as this extraordinary saga continues.
