Highlights
Leeds considers Oliver Skipp for future midfield recruitment after successful loan spell under current manager Farke.
Carlton Palmer skeptical of Skipp transfer due to high salary and potential obstacles like Archie Gray's future at club.
Skipp's return to Spurs may hinder any move to Leeds, as he's seen significant game time in the Premier League recently.
Leeds United are weighing up a move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Oliver Skipp this summer.
According to The Athletic, the Whites will consider an approach for the 23-year-old if they need to recruit in midfield.
The future of Archie Gray could play a role in whether a concrete offer is made for the Spurs player.
Skipp has come through the ranks at the London club, and has featured quite a number of times for the first team squad in recent seasons.
However, he has been unable to cement himself as a key part of the squad since returning from a loan spell at Norwich City in 2021, where he worked alongside current Leeds manager Daniel Farke.
Carlton Palmer sceptical of Skipp move to Leeds
Carlton Palmer is unsure whether a move for Skipp is a realistic transfer target for Leeds this summer.
However, he believes that the midfielder would be a great addition to the squad if they could get a deal over the line.
“Leeds United and their manager Daniel Farke is keen to revisit one of his former players that he took on loan from Spurs to Norwich, Oliver Skipp,” Palmer told Football League World.
“Oliver Skipp is a tremendously talented 23-year-old from Spurs, Farke took him to Norwich in 2021 where they eventually won the Championship at a canter.
“While he has played and has some game time at Spurs, he’s not playing regularly, so a loan move would make a lot of sense.
“A stumbling block could be his £40,000-a-week salary.
“I think Leeds are bracing themselves for offers for Archie Gray or [Ilia] Gruev.
“There’s still a lot of interest in [Wilfried] Gnonto and [Crysencio] Summerville, so again it’s going to be a busy summer for Leeds in terms of goings-in and out.
“But knowing that the league is strong, as it was last season, Leeds will be looking to go one further and, obviously, with the potential of Oliver Skipp, he knows what Oliver Skipp can do.
“Oliver Skipp has been there and won the Championship, this would be a fantastic signing, if Leeds can pull it off.
“It will be interesting to see because wherever he’s come into the Tottenham side, he’s done very well in the Premier League, so I’m not so sure they’ll want to let him out on loan.
“I think he played over 20 games for Spurs last season, but he will want more game time.
“This is a very unlikely transfer for me, but unless Tottenham have different ideas for bringing players in, then it’s possibly a move that can work out.
“This would be a massive coup for Leeds United, and give the supporters great optimism given Skipp was part of that Norwich City side that won the Championship in 2021.”
Oliver Skipp's importance to Spurs
Skipp made 45 appearances in the Championship for Norwich during his loan spell as part of Farke’s team (all stats from Fbref).
He was a key part of the Canaries’ promotion to the Premier League, helping the team win the second division title on the way.
But since returning to Spurs, he has made just 62 league appearances across three campaigns, including 37 starts.
It remains to be seen whether he’d be willing to drop back down to the Championship, but a reunion with Farke at Elland Road could prove quite tempting.
Skipp deal seems unlikely for Leeds
If Skipp coming to Leeds also relies on Gray being sold, then this deal appears quite unlikely at this stage.
The teenager could push for a move, but staying with the Yorkshire outfit for the time being makes sense.
While a reunion between Skipp and Farke could also be quite fruitful, the idea of stepping down from Spurs to the Championship seems unlikely also given the game time he’s receiving in Ange Postecoglou’s team.
It would be a solid signing for the Whites if they could pull it off, but it will take a lot to get it over the line.