TalkSport pundit Adrian Durham has stressed the importance of Norwich City keeping hold of Oliver Skipp this summer if they are to stay in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s men confirmed their second Championship crown in the space of three seasons at the weekend with a 4-1 win over Reading, and speaking after the game the German boss claimed that he felt his side were ‘better prepared’ as a club to tackle the Premier League after a pretty poor showing last time out.
And as heard on the TalkSport Daily podcast (11:52), Durham felt that keeping hold of the Spurs loanee, who is now valued at £7.2 million (as per Transfermarkt), would be crucial to their plans because of the impact that he has had on the team during their promotion campaign:
“Daniel Farke has changed the way they play, changed the structure of the team. And a lot of that is down to the third point I’m going to make and that is Oli Skipp, who sits in front of the back four and does a very good job.
“Now he’s only on loan from Spurs, they have to keep him at all costs, they’ve got to keep him whether it’s signing him permanently or another season on loan, they have to keep Oli Skipp because he’s been brilliant. He was third in their Player of the Year vote, Grant Hanley the centre-back was second which surprised me but it shows just how good he has been.”
Will Skipp be part of the Norwich side next season?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts on Adrian Durham’s comments about Oliver Skipp
Durham’s comments are best backed up by the numbers with Skipp in the top five in the team when it comes to tackles, interceptions and blocks, so he clearly does his fair share of defensive work. With Norwich set to come up against higher quality opposition next season, he’s going to have to do the same again if Norwich are to avoid another disastrous campaign.
But getting him back might not be so easy. With the Spurs managerial position in a state of flux right now, it’s impossible to know whether or not the new man will see Skipp as part of their plans for next season. All that Norwich can do right now is sit back and hope that they don’t.
Previously we covered: ‘Expect things to be different’ – Sky Sports pundit drops claim on Norwich City’s transfer plans