Manchester United have joined the Premier League clubs monitoring Morgan Gibbs-White’s situation at Nottingham Forest.
United, who also have a strong interest in Gibbs-White’s team-mate Elliot Anderson, are among a number of rivals looking to benefit if Forest are relegated this season.
However, Confidential understands United’s new pay scale may hinder their efforts to persuade either player to turn down bigger offers from other clubs and move to Old Trafford in the summer.
Gibbs-White, who can play at No 10 or wide on both flanks, has a release clause in the new contract he signed after Tottenham failed with a £60million bid last year.
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis persuaded the 26-year-old England international to agree a new deal at the City Ground, putting him on a similar salary to United’s most recent signings, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, at around £150,000-a-week.
United have been trying to drive down their wage bill, but it could leave them at a severe disadvantage in the chase for Gibbs-White and Anderson – even more so with Manchester City understood to be tracking both Forest players as well.
Manchester United are interested in Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White who has a release clause in the new contract he signed after Spurs failed with a £60m bid last summer
United’s neighbours beat them to the £64m signing of Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo in January, and would be among the favourites again as players and agents adapt to the new financial norm at Old Trafford.
Earning in excess of £100m by qualifying for the Champions League would have a big impact on United’s ability to offer big money for transfer targets in the summer, but the club are still committed to moving high earners off the books.
Casemiro will leave at the end of his £375,000-a-week contract in June amid interest from LA Galaxy, and £250,000 high earner Jadon Sancho will also become a free agent.
United hope to offload Marcus Rashford’s £315,000 wages by selling him to Barcelona in a permanent £26m deal, and have asked Harry Maguire to lower his current wage of £180,000 in discussions over a new contract.
That would leave Bruno Fernandes as United’s highest-paid player, and there is uncertainty over the captain’s future as well. Gibbs-White would be an ideal replacement for Fernandes if he leaves United after the World Cup.
United hope to offload Marcus Rashford’s eye-watering £315,000-a-week wages by selling him to…