As the summer transfer window looms, Manchester City are poised for a significant squad overhaul, with a potential swap deal involving Jack Grealish and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White stealing the spotlight. The Premier League champions, eager to rebound from a trophyless 2024-25 season, see the 25-year-old Gibbs-White as a dynamic addition to their midfield, while Grealish’s diminishing role at the Etihad has sparked speculation about his departure. This bold move could reshape City’s attacking line and offer Grealish a chance to revive his career, but it carries risks for all parties involved.
Gibbs-White, a versatile English midfielder, has emerged as a prime target for City manager Pep Guardiola, who is tasked with replacing the departed Kevin De Bruyne. With 17 goal contributions—seven goals and ten assists—in the 2024-25 Premier League season, Gibbs-White has proven his worth at Nottingham Forest, helping them secure a European spot. “He’s had a very good season for Forest,” a transfer insider noted, highlighting his appeal as a player capable of thriving under Guardiola’s meticulous guidance. City’s interest in Gibbs-White is long-standing, with the club viewing him as a potential No. 10 to inject creativity and versatility into their midfield. His ability to play across multiple positions, coupled with his upward trajectory, makes him an attractive prospect for a side aiming to reclaim the Premier League title.
To facilitate the deal, Manchester City are reportedly considering including Grealish, their £100 million signing from Aston Villa in 2021, as part of a swap arrangement. Grealish’s time at City has been turbulent, with his influence waning significantly. Despite a standout 2022-23 treble-winning season where he scored five goals and was a key figure in the final third, his 2024-25 campaign was lackluster, yielding just two goal contributions and a single Premier League start since Christmas. His omission from the squad for City’s final match against Fulham in May 2025 prompted Guardiola to deliver a blunt one-word explanation: “Selection.” The manager later hinted at Grealish’s uncertain future, stating, “Jack has to play with us or another club,” signaling an openness to offers.
For Nottingham Forest, acquiring Grealish could be a gamble. While his Premier League experience and flair are undeniable, his £300,000-per-week wages could disrupt their financial structure, potentially causing “unrest” among the squad. “Swap deals are notoriously hard in the Premier League,” an insider cautioned, noting that Forest would need to weigh the risks of integrating a player struggling to regain his form. Alternatively, City could offer young midfielder James McAtee, who, like Grealish, was left out of the Fulham match, as a sweetener to lower Gibbs-White’s reported £70-100 million valuation. Forest, reluctant to lose their star man under contract until 2027, would demand a significant return to part ways with Gibbs-White, who could fetch a club-record fee.
City’s urgency to finalize deals stems from chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s directive to revamp the squad before the FIFA Club World Cup on June 14, 2025. Alongside Gibbs-White, City are pursuing AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders and Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, with the latter’s £20-25 million release clause making him a cheaper alternative. However, Gibbs-White’s proven Premier League pedigree gives him an edge, though Arsenal’s interest could complicate negotiations. “Arsenal could attempt to beat Man City to Gibbs-White,” a report suggested, adding intrigue to the transfer race.[](https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/nottingham-forest-transfers-gibbs-white-10222349)[](https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/nottingham-forest-gibbs-white-city-10217231)[](https://www.football365.com/news/man-city-transfer-blow-arsenal-gibbs-white-almost-guaranteed-transfer-grealish)
For Grealish, a move to Forest could offer a fresh start, much like his former teammate Kalvin Phillips’ loan to Ipswich. Yet, his high wages and recent form raise concerns, with Alan Shearer warning that Grealish “has no future” at City and urging him to seek regular playing time elsewhere to secure his spot in England’s 2026 World Cup squad. “The writing is on the wall for him in Manchester—written in sky blue letters 100 feet high,” one observer quipped. Meanwhile, Gibbs-White’s potential arrival at City could see him thrive under Guardiola, much like Phil Foden, whose struggles last season didn’t deter his development.
As the transfer window opens, this proposed swap deal encapsulates City’s ambition to rebuild and Forest’s challenge to retain their star. For Grealish, it’s a crossroads moment—stay and fight or seize a new opportunity to rediscover his spark. With both clubs navigating financial constraints and lofty aspirations, the outcome of this deal could shape the Premier League’s landscape for seasons to come.
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