Daniel Farke would ‘love’ Oliver Skipp at Leeds United after Tottenham midfielder shone at Norwich – Phil Hay
Daniel Farke would “love” to get Oliver Skipp in at Leeds United if he could this summer after relying on him on loan at Norwich, says Phil Hay.
The English midfielder, 22, missed just one Championship game in the 2020/21 season as Farke’s Canaries won the division, starting 44 times, and although Ethan Ampadu has arrived to bolster the midfield the Spurs man would be an ideal target for the Whites boss.
Skipp has since gone onto establish himself as a decent squad option at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although he only played around half the minutes last term that he did for Farke, so The Athletic’s Hay acknowledges it is probably a long shot even if the Elland Road boss would welcome it if the door did open.
He said on The Square Ball podcast on Friday (21 July, 8m) when assessing the state of the squad: “I think there’s the basis of a really strong team there. What I would question is whether or not there’s enough of a squad to get you through 46 games.
“You do need a really strong XI, and if you look at Farke’s teams, particularly at Norwich the players he leaned on, some of them were so good at delivering for him.
“[Teemu] Pukki, [Emi] Buendia, Oliver Skipp in midfield who was on loan from Spurs and is back at Spurs, somebody else who I think Farke would love if he could get him.
“He does seem to be quite heavily involved, Skipp, and would cost a lot of money as well. But he leant on this players and they were really good for him.”
Out of reach
Much will still depend on the future of Tyler Adams but central midfielders that should definitely be options for next season currently number three with a combined age of less than 60.
Ampadu, 22, is a solid signing and youngsters Darko Gyabi, 19, and Archie Gray, 17, are likely to get more opportunities next term, but the two current Leeds United men are untested in the first team.
Sam Greenwood was used at times last term but is not naturally suited to the position, so the departures of Weston McKennie back to Juventus at the end of his loan, Marc Roca on loan to Real Betis, and Adam Forshaw amid contract extension talks that look to have been hijacked, mean at least one more incoming transfer is probably needed.
Whether the budget would stretch to a permanent Skipp deal is probably unlikely, and whether he would want to drop down to the second tier on loan after making 56 Premier League appearances is probably in question.
But Ampadu himself has been playing in the top tier of England or Italy for multiple seasons and has chosen to switch to Elland Road so as the deadline approaches there could be unexpected openings.
With so little time before the season starts it looks like Farke is going to begin the campaign with a very uncertain squad, with incoming and outgoing business likely continuing well past the opening fixture.
In other Leeds United news, a “frustrated” Whites talent is now looking to leave the club after struggling for opportunities.