Morgan Gibbs-White produced a commanding display for Nottingham Forest during their 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, prompting a former member of the club's recruitment staff to question why a bid was not lodged before the transfer deadline.
According to Football Insider, Bryan King, who previously worked as a senior scout for Villa, believes the club missed an opportunity to sign the 26-year-old during the summer window. King suggested that once outgoing transfers were confirmed, including Morgan Rogers' £117 million move to Chelsea, the midfield position became an obvious area to address.
Gibbs-White was central to Forest's success on Saturday. He provided the flick that set up Igor Jesus for the late winning goal, having already seen Oliver Glasner's side take the lead through Liam Delap shortly after half-time before Alysson equalised for Villa. Football Insider reports that the midfielder created seven chances during the match, a figure described as record-breaking for a Forest player in more than four years.
The publication notes that Villa considered a move for Gibbs-White earlier this year but never submitted a formal approach to Forest. The midfielder, who scored 18 goals across all competitions last season, has two years remaining on his current contract at the City Ground.
Speaking to Football Insider, King said he would have returned to the market with a substantial offer for Gibbs-White once other players departed. He described the midfielder as a perfect option for the forward positions vacated during the summer, adding that the decision not to pursue him was evident during Saturday's defeat.
Forest are understood to be keen on extending Gibbs-White's stay beyond his current deal. Tottenham were also linked with the player previously, though he remained in Nottingham when the window shut on 1 September.
With Premier League clubs unable to complete signings until the January 2027 window opens, any theoretical interest from Villa or elsewhere cannot progress for several months. For now, Gibbs-White remains a Forest player, currently enjoying a run of scoring or assisting in eight consecutive away league matches.
