Wolves have slapped a £50million valuation on Morgan Gibbs-White after rejecting Nottingham Forest’s latest attempt to sign the England under-21 starlet.
Forest are intent on landing Gibbs-White this summer after manager Steve Cooper identified him as their top transfer target following promotion to the Premier League. Wolves are holding firm though and shunned Forest’s latest offer of £25m plus £10m in add-ons on Friday.
Wolves head coach Bruno Lage confirmed a bid had been rejected at his press conference on Friday, before placing a £50m price tag on the 22-year-old’s head. Wolves are determined to hang onto Gibbs-White and want the homegrown attacker to agree to a new contract at Molineux.
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Lage plans to start Gibbs-White against Leeds United in Wolves’ Premier League opener today, having handed him a prominent role in his new 4-3-3 formation during pre-season. Gibbs-White convinced Lage of his talents during his stunning loan spell at Sheffield United last season, where he scored 12 goals and assisted 10 in 37 Championship games.
“I came and everyone was new to me,” Lage explained. “At the end of the transfer window, him, the club and I decided that he should have more minutes. In that period, I agreed. He played very well, especially in a cup game against Nottingham Forest, but after we made the decision that he would go to Sheffield United.
“In January I tried to convince him (to come back), but I understood that in the past he went to Swansea and after he came back he didn’t have chances. I understood his position and gave him a full year to play. He said to me, ‘I feel I can make an important impact, I like the club, I like the city and I want to finish my year there.’ OK, I agreed with him.
“Now, since the first day, I see a top player. When I want to find a player like him, I need to spend £50m.”
Lage repeatedly valued Gibbs-White at £50m throughout this press conference, just hours after Forest’s latest offer had been turned down. He wasn’t able to provide any news on potential incomings, which is of equal concern to Wolves supporters at this moment in time.
Wolves have only added Nathan Collins to their squad during the summer months and Lage’s bench at Elland Road won’t include many attacking options. Leeds, meanwhile, have spent around £100m on six new players for head coach Jesse Marsch.
Lage accepts the lack of fresh faces is ‘concerning’, but he adds that Gibbs-White offers Wolves a boost and pointed to the fact that Ruben Neves is still with the club.
He said: “We are also spending because we kept Morgan. How much is Morgan worth? £50m. We kept Ruben Neves. How much? £80m - or I said £100m! We have two players that at the end of the season we didn’t expect would stay.
“We spent £150m! That’s why I said we need to have patience. Tell me one player who can play like Morgan - how much would you pay for him? Tell me a player who can play like Ruben - how much would you pay for him?
“What is important to understand is that we have a strong team and, with patience, we will create a strong squad. It wasn’t only Leeds who invested. They have invested, but how many players have they lost? Some important players also. We need to look at ourselves, what we can keep with us, and after see opportunities to improve our squad.”
Is £50m a fair valuation? Have your say in the comments section below...
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