Morgan Gibbs-White: Manchester City’s Surprise Pick to Succeed Kevin De Bruyne

With De Bruyne Set to Depart, City Eye Nottingham Forest’s Star as a Key Piece for the Future

As Kevin De Bruyne prepares to bid farewell to the Etihad Stadium this summer, Manchester City find themselves facing a generational dilemma: how do you replace a legend? For nearly a decade, De Bruyne has been the creative heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City side. But with the Belgian maestro confirming his imminent departure, attention swiftly turns to the future — and one name is suddenly being whispered around the Etihad corridors: Morgan Gibbs-White.

According to renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the Nottingham Forest playmaker has emerged as a “priority target” for City, who are reportedly preparing to advance talks for the 25-year-old in the coming weeks. While agreeing personal terms with the player is expected to be straightforward, prising him away from Forest could prove far trickier.

De Bruyne’s Shadow Looms Large

Manchester City will say farewell to De Bruyne after their final home game of the season against Bournemouth on Tuesday 20 May.

Replacing Kevin De Bruyne is not just about replacing his goals and assists — though those alone would be a monumental task. It’s about replacing the vision, the tempo control, the ice-cold decision-making under pressure. Guardiola himself has admitted it’s “almost impossible” to find a like-for-like successor.

And yet, the need is immediate. De Bruyne will depart City following their final home fixture of the season against Bournemouth on 20 May, and he’ll hope to leave with another FA Cup winner’s medal in hand if City can overcome Crystal Palace in the final. The Belgian’s next destination remains up in the air, with MLS side Chicago Fire reportedly keen, although De Bruyne hasn’t ruled out staying in England.

For Manchester City, the transition must be seamless — or as close to it as possible. And that’s where Gibbs-White comes in.

Gibbs-White: From Forest Fight to Etihad Lights?

Morgan Gibbs-White

At first glance, Morgan Gibbs-White may not strike the casual observer as an obvious heir to De Bruyne’s throne. After all, he’s plying his trade at a Nottingham Forest side more familiar with relegation scraps than title tilts. But scratch beneath the surface, and you find a player who has quietly blossomed into one of the most intelligent and versatile attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

This season, Gibbs-White has notched five goals and seven assists for Forest, often acting as the glue that holds Nuno Espírito Santo’s attack together. Technically gifted, tactically disciplined, and fearless on the ball, Gibbs-White has matured significantly since his early days at Wolves. His ability to float between lines, pick out passes under pressure, and glide past defenders with deceptive ease has drawn comparisons — cautiously, of course — to De Bruyne himself.

City’s interest is no flash in the pan. Gibbs-White has reportedly been on Guardiola’s radar since his England U21 days, and with the playmaker now entering his prime years, the timing feels right for a step up.

The Guardiola Fit

What Guardiola seeks in a midfielder is clear: intelligence, positional flexibility, high work rate, and composure under pressure. Gibbs-White ticks a surprising number of those boxes. While he may not yet possess De Bruyne’s world-class passing range, he offers a different kind of dynamism — one rooted in agility, close control, and fearless forward running.

Moreover, Gibbs-White is English, homegrown, and proven in the Premier League — all traits that are increasingly valuable to City in an era where squad registration rules and long-term planning are just as important as raw talent.

Guardiola has a well-known fondness for converting promising midfielders into world-class assets, and Gibbs-White could be his next major project. Think of how Bernardo Silva evolved under Pep’s guidance, or how Phil Foden was carefully molded into one of the most complete attackers in England. With the right coaching, Gibbs-White’s ceiling could be much higher than currently perceived.

Forest’s Fight to Keep Their Star

Of course, Nottingham Forest won’t give up their crown jewel without a fight. Gibbs-White is under contract until 2027, and with his importance to the team clear, Forest are expected to demand a significant transfer fee — perhaps upwards of £50 million.

That figure, while steep, is unlikely to deter City if Guardiola has made Gibbs-White his man. And though Forest will be desperate to retain their talisman, they may also be tempted by the prospect of reinvesting a sizeable fee into rebuilding a squad that has often flirted with the drop zone.

Whether the player himself would be open to the move is less of a question. While Gibbs-White has spoken fondly of his time at Forest, the lure of Champions League football, silverware, and the chance to play under Pep Guardiola is hard for any young English talent to resist.

What Comes Next?

City are expected to make contact with Forest soon, and Romano suggests talks will “advance” in the coming weeks. The club are confident they won’t face any obstacles in negotiating personal terms, leaving the transfer fee as the final hurdle.

Should a deal be struck, it could mark the beginning of a new phase for City’s midfield. With Ilkay Gündogan having left last summer, and De Bruyne now set to follow, Guardiola’s core is evolving. The likes of Mateo Kovačić and Matheus Nunes have been solid if unspectacular additions, but Gibbs-White represents something different — a player for the future with the potential to become the heartbeat of the next great City side.

Farewell to a Legend, Eyes on the Future

De Bruyne’s legacy at Manchester City is secured. A magician with the ball and a leader without needing to shout, his impact will echo at the Etihad for years. But football moves fast — and City are already preparing for what comes next.

If Morgan Gibbs-White is indeed the man they see as the future, then we may be on the verge of one of the more intriguing transfers of the summer. A young English talent, tested in adversity, stepping onto the biggest stage of all.

From the City Ground to the Etihad — it would be quite the leap. But maybe, just maybe, Gibbs-White is ready for it.