Spurs weigh fresh Gibbs-White bid as De Zerbi told he's safe

A second run at Gibbs-White

Tottenham had a £60m bid for Morgan Gibbs-White knocked back by Nottingham Forest last summer, and CaughtOffside reports they could come back in January with an offer more than double that figure. It's a single-source claim for now, but £125m for a Premier League midfielder in the same window a club is 20th in the table with a goal difference of -6 would be a statement, whatever else is going on. Spurs have already spent heavily this window, with a net outlay running past €251m according to Flagside's own transfer data, so this would be another significant addition on top of an already restructured squad.

The timing is what makes it interesting. Gibbs-White has been one of the more coveted English midfielders on the market for two windows running, and Forest have shown no urgency to sell. If Tottenham are really prepared to near-double their original bid, it suggests either the price has genuinely moved or they're ready to overpay to solve a midfield problem that's been visible all season.

De Zerbi's fitness gripe

While that plan takes shape, Roberto de Zerbi has been dealing with a more immediate issue: Dominic Solanke's condition. CaughtOffside reports de Zerbi called the striker's fitness "not good enough" before making what the outlet describes as a strange call around the international break, without detailing exactly what that decision involved. Fabrizio Romano, in a separate update carried by CaughtOffside, says de Zerbi is currently safe in his job, even after a run that's produced zero wins, two draws and three defeats from five games.

That combination, public frustration with a striker's fitness and a manager whose position isn't in immediate danger, points to someone still trying to fix things from inside the building rather than one bracing for the sack.

Ten Hag backed, Conte watching from the sidelines

Across town in Manchester, Erik ten Hag has his own version of this problem, minus the public criticism. Manchester United remain committed to their manager despite continued links to Antonio Conte, suggesting the club's board still has more patience than the results might justify. It's a similar shape to the Tottenham situation: a manager under scrutiny, a big name circling, and a club choosing stability over an immediate swing.

Palmer out, Barcelona locked in

England's own selection headaches added to the picture, with Cole Palmer withdrawing from the Nations League squad through injury, the specifics of which haven't been detailed. Premier League figures have him at 442 minutes, two goals and two assists so far this season, a modest return by his own standards after a 2024/25 campaign that produced 15 goals and 10 assists across 3,193 minutes. Losing him for the break, even briefly, is a blow England can ill afford heading into a run of qualifiers.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are doing the opposite of crisis management. Sporting director Deco announced an agreement in principle on a new contract for Raphinha, according to CaughtOffside, a tidy bit of business for a club currently topping La Liga. And back in north London, Tottenham turned down an overseas offer for Richarlison from Shabab Al Ahli, choosing to keep hold of an attacker rather than cash in mid-crisis.