Anthony Elanga Manchester United
As Nottingham Forest gears up for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, the club finds itself at a pivotal juncture both on and off the pitch. Following a goalless draw against Chesterfield in their pre-season opener, the Reds are focused on maintaining their upward trajectory. With just over a month until the new season kicks off, Forest is navigating significant transfer dealings, notably involving Morgan Gibbs-White and Anthony Elanga.
Sky Andrew said: “Here’s the thing, guys, it’s very difficult to prove tapping up. It’s very difficult to prove that a club went direct to a player without the permission of a club. We’re getting into all sorts of things here – phone records and everything. If it goes to arbitration, where it must go within the football rules and regulations, then Forest will have to prove that the club went directly to the player or to the agent. Most clubs know that it is very difficult to prove. So, this is a case now of how much will the buying club pay for the player. It won’t be £60 million, it will probably have to be more.”
Sky Andrew continued: “It depends how serious Marinakis is. To me, Marinakis looks like a serious guy. I wouldn’t mess with him. He has got to decide where he wants to go with this. Once a player says they want to leave, it’s very difficult to keep that player at the club. The resolution is normally to just get the best deal you can for the club. Marinakis and his people have got to sit down with Morgan Gibbs-White and decide where they go from here.”
The potential departure of Morgan Gibbs-White to Tottenham Hotspur has been a focal point, with Spurs reportedly triggering a £60 million release clause. However, as highlighted by agent Sky Andrew, proving any alleged tapping up by Spurs could be challenging. The situation now hinges on the seriousness of Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, in negotiating the best possible deal for the club.
Meanwhile, Anthony Elanga’s exit from the City Ground has left a void. The Swedish international, who played a crucial role in Forest’s seventh-place finish last season, bid an emotional farewell, leaving behind strong bonds with teammates like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ola Aina. Despite Elanga’s departure, Forest captain Ryan Yates remains optimistic about the club’s future, citing Marinakis’s willingness to reinvest in the squad as a key factor in their continued success.
Ryan Yates said: “It is only a blow if you have an owner who does not invest. But ours has shown repeatedly that he does invest. When Brennan left everyone was gutted about it. But that money was reinvested so well, into the team. The main thing we have had has been stability. We do not get too disappointed with results or transfers. We just trust the owner that he will continue to invest in the club and the team and that people at the club just do their job, as they have done in the past.”
As the Reds prepare for their next friendly against AS Monaco, the focus remains on strategic recruitment and ensuring squad stability. The upcoming fixture will be another opportunity for Forest to assess their squad depth and readiness for the challenges ahead.
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