Gibbs-White transfer: Tottenham private thoughts on deal after massive twist

Tottenham are pursuing a move for Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White but they are now threatening legal action as they believe they made an illegal approach

Tottenham remain confident that they can still secure the signing of Morgan Gibbs-White despite an inevitable delay as they're accused of tapping up the Nottingham Forest forward.

Those at the City Ground have been angered by the approach taken by those from north London and have threatened legal action. Forest insist they have not given Spurs permission to speak to Gibbs-White and are willing to go how far is required to prevent the transfer taking place.

Premier League rules state that clubs are not allowed to talk to players under contract with another team unless they have permission. Tottenham were set to trigger the player's £60million release clause with a medical to be held on Friday.

Forest's anger and subsequent threat will see the deal now drag on, but Tottenham still remain confident they will get their man, who had been on Manchester City's radar earlier this summer.

Forest have cut off communications at this time but football.london understands Tottenham remain hopeful of getting the deal over the line whilst they accept that a delay will be inevitable.

Some at the City Ground are understood to have accepted that they could be powerless to stop the transfer should Spurs do it all through the proper channels given Gibbs-White's release clause and apparent desire to make the move to the capital.

Forest qualified for Europe last season and, after Crystal Palace's demise to the Europa Conference League, will now play in the Europa League. Nuno Espirito Santo has just seen Antony Elanga, another of his key attacking weapons, leave to join Newcastle for £55m.

The club will be loathed to lose another of their leading lights but Tottenham may well eventually get their man as they hit the market hard with Thomas Frank now at the helm. Despite winning the Europa League the club endured a dire Premier League campaign last time out.

They have wasted no time bolstering their ranks though with the £55m signing of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham completed this week. Should Gibbs-White join that would take the spending under Frank to £150m, which includes Mathys Tel's loan move being made permanent from Bayern Munich.