Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte may well be delighted to hear that Oliver Skipp is close to signing a new contract with the club.
Indeed, as reported by Sky Sports News, the 21-year-old is in ‘advanced talks’ with Spurs over improved terms on a long-term deal.
His current deal had been set to expire in the summer of 2024, but this latest update displays a big show of faith in the midfielder and could have a couple of interesting consequences on the team.
TIF has looked at just how it could play out…
Ndombele replacement found
One man who may be delighted about this deal is Daniel Levy. After all, the man who famously doesn’t like to spend much money, splashed over £50m on a midfielder a few years ago, only for that to fail miserably.
Indeed, Tanguy Ndombele never found his feet at Spurs and was subsequently loaned out of the club back to Lyon this January. With that in mind, Levy may well be hesitant to spend big on a long-term replacement for the Frenchman in the summer.
And so, with Skipp being a player who came through the Tottenham academy, he won’t cost the club a penny in transfer fees. On top of that, his new contract is unlikely to be anywhere close to the reported figure in the region of £200,000 a week that Ndombele earns.
Conte buzzing
One man who truly sees the potential in Skipp is his manager. Indeed, despite only joining the club midway through the current season, Conte has already spoken about just how important the midfielder could be in the club’s future.
As quoted by the Evening Standard, the Italian said he can turn the youngster into ‘a top midfielder’ one day.
Speaking after a win over Brentford in December, he explained: “This player is very young. He has really a lot of space for improvement.
“He played with great intensity, great passion, with heart, with soul. I think it was important because, for me, he doesn’t care if he’s only 21 years old, who deserves to play.”
Should Oliver Skipp start in the Tottenham midfield when fit?
Yes
No
He added: “I think that the present and the future depends on him. If he wants to become a top midfielder. He could become a top midfielder, but he has to continue to work. He has this will, this desire to become an important player for Tottenham and for the present and for the future.”
Well, taking those comments into account, Conte will be delighted that by committing his future to the club, Skipp has also committed himself to his manager’s ambition.
Perhaps working together, they can both reach their full potential with Tottenham.
In other news: Behind-scenes footage reveals Tottenham ace’s outburst in tunnel after NUFC win