Arsenal to raid crisis-struck Nottingham Forest for star player

Stuart Telford

Updated: 24 Mar 2024 04:03 CDT
3 min read

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Arsenal are ready to raid Nottingham Forest for Morgan Gibbs-White after the East Midlands club were hit with a Financial Fair Play penalty.

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Arsenal are top of the Premier League heading into the first international break of the year, ahead of Liverpool on goal-difference and a point clear of champions Manchester City.

But Mikel Arteta and Co. won't rest on their laurels, with the Spaniard set to be backed in next summer's transfer market. And Gibbs-White has become a priority target.

READ MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumours

Forest were hit with a four-point penalty last week after exceeding the yearly loss threshold by £34.5 million, and they now need to raise funds.

"Arsenal are keeping tabs on Morgan Gibbs-White as Nottingham Forest weigh up cashing in on their star man," reports The Daily Star's Alex Wood.

"Gibbs-White, a £42.5 million buy from Wolves in 2022, has been a standout performer for Forest. And it's understood the title-chasing Gunners are now monitoring his availability with interest."

© IMAGO - Gibbs-White could leave Nottingham Forest after just two seasons.

Forest's spending

Forest actually paid Wolves €29.5m (£25m) up front for Gibbs-White, with the rest to follow in add-ons, meaning Ibrahim Sangare's €35m arrival from PSV Eindhoven last September has since overtaken it as Forest's record signing.

Both arrivals are testament to how much Forest have spent since returning to the Premier League after a 23-year hiatus, however.

Gibbs-White is now valued at €48.7m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, so Forest can expect to make a profit on the former England U21 international.

Gibbs-White has nine goals and 13 assists from his 71 Forest appearances so far. A versatile attacking midfielder, his arrival would likely put further pressure on Emile Smith Rowe's future at the Emirates.

The Gunners have recently been linked with a move for Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz, so it is clear they are looking for the profile of an attacking midfielder to bolster their squad.