Arsenal to raid crisis-struck Nottingham Forest for star player

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 24 Mar 2024 09:03 GMT
• 3 min read

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

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."

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.

READ MORE: Arsenal's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

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.