Man City’s hunt for new Kevin De Bruyne circles back to previously named target

Manchester City will lose Kevin De Bruyne in the summer after lengthy service
Premier League champions impressed by performances of Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest have no desire to sell 25-year-old but City best placed if he leaves

By Toby Cudworth | 2:00 PM GMT+1

Morgan Gibbs-White has been in wonderful form for Nottingham Forest / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Manchester City’s search for a Kevin De Bruyne replacement could lead to a move for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, a new report has reaffirmed.

City head into gameweek 33 of the Premier League season trailing Forest by a place and two points – a scenario not even the most ardent Tricky Trees supporter would have predicted before the campaign got underway.

Gibbs-White has already been linked with City this month as the reigning Premier League champions, who will imminently surrender their crown to Liverpool, make plans to replace the legendary De Bruyne. The Belgian will seek pastures new once his contract expires at the end of June, leaving behind a legacy which could yet see a statue erected outside of the Etihad Stadium.

The Times state that City are frontrunners to sign Gibbs-White this summer, if he is to leave Champions League hunters Forest. But the two-time European Cup winners have no interest in parting ways with their most influential midfielder – hardly a surprise given his importance to Nuno Espirito Santo.

One factor that’s said to play into City’s favour is Gibbs-White’s close relationship with England team-mate Phil Foden. The pair became close when playing together at Under-17 level, with Gibbs-White named as godfather to Foden’s son, Ronnie.

Forest have previously walked a fine line in regards to compliance with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, but there’s thought to be no such concerns in place at present. Indeed, the money on offer from qualifying for next season’s Champions League could put the club in an exceptionally healthy position.

Nuno’s side have work to do though to secure their top-five berth. Back-to-back defeats in the Premier League have seen Forest drop to fourth and they could sink to fifth if City overcome Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Some crunch matches lie ahead for Forest, starting with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night. They round off their Premier League season at home to fellow Champions League chasers Chelsea – an occasion that’s guaranteed to bring a raucous atmosphere at the City Ground.

Gibbs-White, like any other footballer, will harbour ambitions of playing at the highest level, and City’s proven pedigree and star-studded squad may be difficult to turn down if Pep Guardiola and incoming sporting director Hugo Viana formalise their interest with a bid.