The Morgan Gibbs-White transfer should have been completed a week ago alongside the 55 million pound coup of West Ham star Mohammed Kudus, but Nottingham Forest's temper tantrum has blocked Spurs from signing one of the biggest attacking talents in the Premier League to a squad that was in need of game-changers this summer.
But the reality is that Tottenham could have closed this deal despite Forest's protests, and they really should have ended this entire process by showing more urgency to sign Gibbs-White and fight the Powers That Be to make this deal happen officially. After all, Gibbs-White wants a Tottenham move, and Spurs paid his 60 million pound release clause fair and square.
If Gibbs-White truly wants to join Tottenham Hotspur this summer, then he could push for a move, too, instead of playing nice with a Forest organization that is essentially holding him hostage and placing him in official match squads for meaningless friendlies, as opposed to facilitating a transfer that should be legal and done by now.
Meanwhile, a different Tottenham transfer target is showing how it's done. Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who is being pursued by both Newcastle and Tottenham this summer, has, per a report from BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel, made it crystal clear to the Bees that he has no intention of playing for them next season.
Yoane Wissa is standing on business
Wissa wants a move, and, unlike Gibbs-White, he's willing to act like it. The star striker has left the club's preseason activities in Portugal and is speaking with the Brentford sporting director about his future with the full intent of agreeing on personal terms with either Newcastle or Tottenham and getting a deal done.
Tottenham don't seem to be pursuing Wissa very hard, though, even though Thomas Frank is interesting in reuniting with his 19-goal Brentford striker after losing out on star man Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United.
Newcastle, having just lost out on Hugo Ekitike to reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, are now showing the most urgency for Wissa. Tottenham appear to be resigned to giving Richarlison one last, honest go under Frank, with 2024 marquee signing Dominic Solanke entrenched as the starter after an excellent Europa League campaign in 2024/25.
Wissa's willingness to take a strong-arm stance on Brentford is a harsh reminder to Tottenham that if Gibbs-White really wants to be a Spur, then he'll make it happen. So far, MGW hasn't done that at all, and that has to be disappointing to Tottenham fans who want players, like Mathys Tel, who truly push to be part of the club.