Manchester City are said to be interested in a new attacking midfielder this summer after club legend Kevin De Bruyne announced that he will be departing the Etihad at the end of the season.
Named amongst the club’s targets is Nottingham Forest star and England international, Morgan Gibbs-White, as reported by David Ornstein.
The Premier League champions are likely to be active in the summer transfer window, after a lackluster league campaign sees Guardiola’s men in sixth place, in contention for a Champions League spot.
Elsewhere, Guardiola’s men were comfortably eliminated from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid last month, leaving the FA Cup as Kevin De Bruyne’s last opportunity for a trophy with the club.
Gibbs-White to Manchester City
With Hugo Viana stepping up to his new role as director of football with the club, wholesale changes are anticipated this summer window.
As previously mentioned, Kevin De Bruyne’s pending departure leaves a prominent target area in the transfer window, with Phil Foden similarly struggling to hit the form shown last campaign.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has emerged as a top target for the club according to reports, after the 25-year-old has enjoyed a stellar campaign.
Having joined the club upon their promotion in the summer of 2022, the midfielder has been a pivotal figure since signing.
Currently sitting second in the Premier League, Gibbs-White has registered five goals and seven assists while the return of European football to The City Ground is on the horizon.
Also establishing himself in the England squad in the last year, the former Wolves man is likely to be in demand this summer after previously being linked with Newcastle United according to reports at GiveMeSport, also stating that a £50 million bid may be considered by Forest.
Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has previously praised the Englishman as an “Exceptional” player before the Citizens were defeated at The City Ground last month.
While a move for the midfielder is not concrete, Gibbs-White is said to be amongst “multiple options” with Ornstein also naming German international Florian Wirtz on City’s radar.
Would this be a good signing for City?
Since joining the club three years ago, the midfielder’s career trajectory has sky-rocketed.
Cemented in Nuno Espirito Santos’ starting eleven while being crucial in maintaining Forest’s Premier League status and current European charge, he has also begun to establish his presence in his national team.
Proving himself as a top performer at Premier League level, a move to a divisional rival could prove problematic for Manchester City if Forest are to secure Champions League football ahead of the Citizens.
However, an offer to work with Pep Guardiola may be difficult to reject, the Spaniard’s time in Manchester seeing the club win six of the last seven Premier League titles.
It will be interesting to see if anything more comes of this rumour, with a number ten likely of interest to the club following Kevin De Bruyne’s announced departure.