Tottenham Hotspur appeared to be on verge of completing the signing of a player that Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher feels would instantly upgrade Arne Slot’s squad.
Spurs have already been active in the transfer market this summer, signing Mathys Tel on a permanent deal following a six-month loan spell, Japanese defender Kota Takai for £5 million — a record fee for a J-League player — and Mohammed Kudus from London rivals West Ham.
But it was Tottenham’s to-be fourth summer signing that was set to be their most high-profile as newly-appointed Thomas Frank looks to build a squad capable of competing in both the Premier League and Champions League.
According to multiple reports, Morgan Gibbs-White was undergoing a medical at Spurs after the North London club triggered the £60 million release clause in his Nottingham Forest contract, but the deal now appears to have collapsed with Forest reporting Tottenham for an illegal approach.
More on Morgan Gibbs-White. Nottingham Forest have reported Spurs to the Premier League this afternoon for making an illegal approach and have threatened legal action. Spurs have received communication asking them to cease contact with Gibbs-White.
Forest declined to comment,… pic.twitter.com/SeZET2pkJi
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 11, 2025
The 25-year-old is coming off the back of a fantastic campaign last season, in which he registered 7 goals and 8 assists in 34 Premier League appearances, and his performances didn’t go unnoticed by Jamie Carragher.
Speaking to The Overlap US: It’s Called Soccer podcast, Carragher heaped praise on Gibbs-White, even suggesting the England international would be an upgrade on Dominik Szoboszlai at Anfield.
“I’ve been watching Morgan Gibbs-White now for probably 18 months in the Premier League and I’m convinced he can play for one of the top teams.
I look at him in that number 10 position, he’s got goals, he’s got energy, he’s quick, he gets on the ball and I think that lad has got a lot going for him and obviously he’s going to get a move.
Obviously the point being that he’s one that Thomas Tuchel has got to be looking to get in the England squad. It will be difficult for him to play because of the players that you have in that position but I think, look I say he’s going to play for one of the top teams but Forest are that at the minute,
I’m going to get slaughtered here aren’t I, but what I mean is that I could see him, I think he’s as good as Szoboszlai, if not better, in that number 10 position. I think he’s brilliant.”
Liverpool have already addressed their own number 10 role this summer, securing the signing of Florian Wirtz in a club-record deal from Bayer Leverkusen. After occupying the number 10 position under Arne Slot last season, exactly what Wirtz’s arrival means for Szoboszlai’s role remains to be seen.
Speaking shortly after the 22-year-old German landed in Anfield, the Hungarian’s agent did not seem concerned about his client’s future, responding that he was “neither afraid… nor interested” in the questions surrounding Szoboszlai’s position next season.
