Villa see Gibbs-White as a potential replacement for Morgan Rogers amid growing Premier League interest.
Aston Villa are monitoring the situation of Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White as they prepare for a potentially busy summer transfer window.
According to TEAMtalk, Villa are eager to retain Morgan Rogers, who has enjoyed an outstanding campaign, contributing eight goals and five assists in 25 Premier League appearances. The 23-year-old is under contract at Villa Park until 2031, putting the club in a strong negotiating position.
However, with Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United all showing interest in Rogers, Villa are also lining up contingency plans and Gibbs-White has emerged as a leading candidate.
Forest are expected to demand between £65m and £70m for the 26-year-old, although they are reportedly more open to a sale than they were last summer. A potential relegation could further increase the likelihood of his departure.
Emery’s admiration for Gibbs-White
Unai Emery has previously spoken highly of Gibbs-White, saying:
“Gibbs-White is a very good player. He is very important to them because he has good tempo, good passes and he is very intelligent. It’s not easy to stop him.”
The midfielder has also been described as “unbelievable technically” by Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, underlining his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most creative players.
Gibbs-White’s Premier League output
Over the past four seasons, Gibbs-White has delivered consistent attacking returns:
- 2022/23: 13 goal involvements
- 2023/24: 15
- 2024/25: 17
- 2025/26: 8 (so far)
While Villa should prioritise keeping Rogers who leads Emery’s squad with 31 chances created this season Gibbs-White’s experience and proven Premier League quality make him a strong potential replacement if a sale becomes unavoidable.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
