Everton have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
Morgan Gibbs-White has become one of the most sought-after young players in England this summer following his breakthrough on loan at Sheffield United. Everton are among the clubs to have registered their interest in the midfielder, but as per Sky Sports, they have faced rejection in their attempts to sign the youngster this summer.
The report suggests Wolves have knocked back Everton’s bid of around £25 million for Gibbs-White. It appears the Midlands outfit are aiming to retain the services of the youngster for the season ahead, as they believe he can prove to be a big player in Bruno Lage’s setup in the years to come.
An attacking midfielder by trade, Gibbs-White made his breakthrough during his loan spell at Sheffield United last season. He was one of the rising stars in the Championship, racking up 35 league appearances while being involved in as many as 20 goals. He even scored and assisted a goal in the promotion playoff even though the Blades were unable to secure the ticket back to the top flight.
Gibbs-White has since returned to Molineux after a successful loan spell at Sheffield United. He is widely expected to earn a big-money move elsewhere, with Crystal Palace among the clubs interested in his services. Everton have joined the list, too, as coach Frank Lampard looks to shore up his options in the creative unit.
The craft and productivity of Morgan Gibbs-White could go a long way in helping the club replace the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Donny van de Beek ahead of the new season. The 22-year-old’s presence in the final third, coupled with his work ethic may also fit ideally with Lampard’s tactical setup at Goodison Park, thus making him an ideal target for Everton.
However, it seems Wolves are determined to keep hold of the young playmaker as they look to strengthen their options in the attacking third. The club have been able to retain the services of Hwang Hee-chan and the further retention of Gibbs-White, coupled with the presence of Pedro Neto could add a new dimension to the club’s ability to create chances in the final third.
That said, Wolves can still expect Everton and other Premier League clubs to come up with improved offers to sign Gibbs-White, as he continues to attract the interest of various teams following his breakthrough season in the Championship last term.