Football General Manager
- Jamie O’Hara blasts Forest’s treatment of Gibbs-White
- Tottenham‘s £60m bid sparks legal row with Forest
- Premier League could step in amid transfer stand-off
Tottenham Hotspur’s bid to sign Gibbs-White has stalled over the last few days despite the Lilywhites having activated his £60 million ($80m) release clause on Friday of last week. Nottingham Forest have accused the London club of making an ‘illegal approach’ and are threatening legal action. The player has reportedly held showdown talks with Forest to force through the move this summer before the North London side begin their pre-season.
Nottingham Forest’s legal threat has complicated what should have been a straightforward deal. The Premier League is now considering launching an investigation into the matter as Gibbs-White’s situation has sparked debate around player rights and contractual transparency. Former Tottenham star O’Hara was the latest to launch a scathing attack on Nottingham.
Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, O’Hara said: “Morgan Gibbs-White should go to the PFA, he should sue Nottingham Forest, and he should refuse to train,” he said. “I think Forest are a disgrace, the way they have dealt with the situation is disgusting.
“He has signed a contract and there’s a release clause of 60 million pounds in there. He knows it’s in there, his agent knows it’s in there and Nottingham Forest know that it’s in there. He has agreed to that contract on those terms, whether he has become a better player at Forest that is worth more than 60 million, that’s on him.
“Now when someone finds out about the release clause, which happens every day in football, people find stuff out and agents talk, Nottingham Forest suddenly decide they can’t have that, and the clause is confidential. What do you mean confidential? It’s a release clause in a player’s contract; he’s entitled to know about it and tell people about it. What is going on here?
“Evangelos Marinakis has had an absolute stinker and his club are going to lose Morgan Gibbs-White for 60 million because he’s done better than they expected and someone found out. It’s a disgrace. A player can tell who he wants about his contract, he’s earned it, and they were all happy to sign it at the time. Now suddenly it’s illegal, what on earth are they on about? It’s disgusting.”
The Premier League could intervene if Nottingham Forest officially file a complaint. Gibbs-White remains determined to complete his switch to Tottenham. Legal action may follow if the England international and Spurs both decide to fight back against Forest, if the situation continues to escalate.
