Morgan Gibbs-White could once again be at the center of summer transfer speculation, with Aston Villa reportedly positioning themselves as leading candidates for the Nottingham Forest midfielder.
According to TEAMtalk, Villa believe the 26-year-old England international is a strong tactical fit for Unai Emery’s evolving project at Villa Park.
Gibbs-White has been here before. He was almost set to join Tottenham last summer, but has committed his future to Forest by signing a new long-term contract.
The extension, which runs until 2028, strengthens Forest’s negotiating position and underlines his importance to the club.
However, renewed interest suggests his situation could resurface in this summer’s transfer window.
Gibbs-White is a key figure at the City Ground
Since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2022, Gibbs-White has become Nottingham Forest’s creative focal point.
With more than 150 appearances and 25 goals under his belt, he has a combination of technical flair and leadership qualities that have helped him rise to prominence within the team.
His six senior caps for England further reflect his progress in recent years.
Forest view him as one of their most valuable assets and any potential deal would require a hefty offer.
Reports suggest Villa’s interest is unrelated to Forest’s league position, with the Birmingham club evaluating the move from a long-term perspective.
Why Aston Villa are interested in midfielder
At Aston Villa, manager Unai Emery continues to hone his team to compete at the top end.
Villa currently sit third behind Arsenal and Manchester City, nine points off the top of the table but still firmly in the title race.
Speculation over Morgan Rodgers’ future has led the club to consider contingency plans, but Gibbs-White’s versatility to operate as a number 10, wide playmaker or deep midfielder makes him an attractive option.
His ability to move forward with the ball and create chances could complement Emery’s fluid attacking structure.
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