Can Arsenal secure Morgan Gibbs-White as a backup plan for Morgan Rogers?

With the Premier League title secured, Arsenal is actively pursuing reinforcements for their attacking line, adding Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White to their summer transfer shortlist. Manager Mikel Arteta views the 26-year-old as a strong alternative to their main target, Morgan Rogers.

Following Arsenal's first league triumph in 22 years, Arteta is focused on preparing for the upcoming season's defense of the title. Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, aged 23, stands out as a priority signing, with the club considering him a potential major statement acquisition for the summer transfer window.

Arteta is reportedly overseeing the recruitment process himself, valuing Rogers' ability to operate across multiple attacking positions as an ideal fit for his tactical approach. However, the transfer fee for Rogers is expected to be substantial, potentially approaching £100 million, reflecting his strong performances domestically and in European competitions.

In the event that securing Rogers proves challenging, Arsenal has identified Gibbs-White as a significant alternative, according to reports from SunSport. Serving as Nottingham Forest's captain, Gibbs-White had an impressive season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions and playing a key role in Forest's journey to the Europa League semi-finals, where they were eliminated by Rogers' Aston Villa.

Gibbs-White's 15 goals in the Premier League ranked him as the second highest-scoring English player in the division, behind only Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa. Despite his club achievements, he faced disappointment internationally when England manager Thomas Tuchel excluded him from the World Cup squad. Gibbs-White expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “I know myself that I have done more than enough to be in the squad. I got on the wrong side of someone’s opinion.”

Arsenal faces competition from other European clubs in these transfer pursuits. Paris Saint-Germain, who recently defeated Arsenal on penalties in the Champions League final, are also monitoring Morgan Rogers. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest's owner, Evangelos Marinakis, is intent on retaining key players, having convinced Gibbs-White to commit to a long-term contract through 2028.

Complicating matters further is the transfer speculation surrounding another Nottingham Forest player, Elliot Anderson. The midfielder, valued at £100 million, has attracted interest from both Manchester City and Manchester United. Forest manager Vítor Pereira acknowledged the challenge, stating, “the market is the market,” despite his desire to keep the core squad intact.

Amid the transfer discussions, Thomas Tuchel has defended his controversial decision to omit Gibbs-White from England’s World Cup squad. The German coach emphasized that his selections were based on tactical considerations rather than individual performance or reputation, a rationale that also excluded players like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer.

Tuchel explained, “Does this mean that the other guys that you mentioned did anything wrong? No. For some of them, it's just a positional thing that we also tried to have a balanced squad and not to bring five number 10s and make them play out of position because whom would we do a favour with? The player or ourselves? I don't think so.” For Gibbs-White, joining Arsenal could provide an opportunity to challenge the England manager’s decision.