Morgan Gibbs-White is Nottingham Forest’s best and most important player; however, he isn’t the most valuable name on the books of Oliver Glasner’s squad.

When you think of the Nottingham Forest squad now that Elliot Anderson is gone, Morgan Gibbs-White is the player who would likely command the highest transfer fee. Ben Jacobs has said Evangelos Marinakis would demand a massive fee for Gibbs-White, although he would more likely reject any approach, given how important he is to the club.

Nottingham Forest’s most valuable player is Neco Williams

It may come as a shock, but the CIES Football Observatory has now unveiled its updated transfer values tool, and Gibbs-White isn’t Forest’s highest valued player.

Instead, it is left-wing-back Neco Williams who has seen himself valued higher than any other Forest player. Williams has a ‘fair price’ value of between €50m and €58m (£41.8-48.5m), which puts him as Forest’s most valuable asset, but also in terms of the Premier League club’s most valuable players, he is fourth bottom.

Forest paid £16m to Liverpool for Williams in 2022, and since then have absolutely gotten the money’s worth from the Welsh international. Williams has been a staple for Forest since, playing 169 times across all competitions, and despite this, he is still just 25 years of age.

This comes after Williams was named in the team of the week for his goal-scoring performance against Ipswich, which is his best showing of the season, having looked an odd match for Glasner originally.

Des Walker named Williams as Forest’s best player, which is now reinforced by his valuation being so high, and even more than captain Gibbs-White, who himself is likely to command a fee much higher than a ‘fair price’.

Given the price of Morgan Rogers, for example, Gibbs-White would surely command at least £70m if Marinakis were to even consider letting him leave the club, with the likes of Chelsea sure to be keen again in 2027.

Why Williams is valued higher than Morgan Gibbs-White

One factor behind Gibbs-White not having the highest valuation within the Forest squad is likely due to his contract situation at the City Ground. Currently, his deal only runs until 2028, which is roughly 18 months away and doesn’t leave Forest with much negotiating standing.

At 26, Gibbs-White would probably be worth £70m in this market with a longer-term contract, while to Forest, he is invaluable and wouldn’t be leaving for at least close to £100m, especially with how good a seller Marinakis is.

Williams’ contract runs until 2030, meaning he has just under four years left, and therefore it is reflected in his valuation. Forest can take solace in having one of the finest left-backs in the league.