The expected departure of Morgan Gibbs-White will leave a cavernous creative void at Nottingham Forest. While Chris Wood provided the goals last season and Newcastle-bound Anthony Elanga enhanced Forest’s forward line with his pace and assists, Gibbs-White was the team’s fulcrum.

Thriving in the No.10 role for his club under Nuno Espirito Santo, Gibbs-White made his England debut last September and contributed six top-flight goals and eight assists as Forest improved by 10 places on their finishing position in 2024. He is the only player to reach double figures for combined goals and assists in three consecutive Premier League seasons with Forest.

Last season, the 25-year-old was involved in 148 attacks that led to an attempt on goal in the Premier League, either through him taking the shot, creating the chance or being involved in the build-up. None of his team-mates came close to matching that tally.

The possible £60m acquisition of Gibbs-White means new Spurs head coach Thomas Frank could have an abundance of options to play as the central attacking midfielder. It follows swiftly on from a £55m deal for Mohammed Kudus, who typically played out wide for West Ham but has said his preferred position is as a No.10.

Tottenham, of course, already had James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski for that role. Those four players are versatile but the question is whether they can all contribute and be content?