According to Evening Standard, Fulham have expressed interest to sign Oliver Skipp on loan. The midfielder is one of four Tottenham Hotspur players the Cotaggers are targeting following their promotion to the Premier League. Other players on this list include Kyle Walker-Peters and Jack Clarke while a potential return of Ryan Sessegnon could also be on the cards.
Oliver Skipp’s Struggles Under Jose Mourinho
Skipp was heading into the new season with a lot of promise, having made an impression during the back-end of the 2018/19 campaign. But, Tottenham’s poor start to the season, combined with the subsequent arrival of Jose Mourinho, marred his progress.
Especially under Mourinho, the midfielder wasn’t really favoured due to his pass-oriented game. The Portuguese mastermind instead opted for more dynamic nature of Moussa Sissoko and even Harry Winks. He then followed it up with the January acquisition of Gedson Fernandes, on a long-term loan deal from SL Benfica.
As a result, Skipp saw his game-time drastically minimised. In fact, he featured in only 71 minutes of league football this past season, only one of which was an actual start.
Does Skipp have any future at Spurs?
Unlike last summer, Skipp’s future at Tottenham Hotspur is in serious doubt. As mentioned earlier, the 19-year-old is not favoured by Mourinho, at least from a tactical standpoint.
Although the likes of Sissoko and Tanguy Ndombele have failed to provide the consistency to the table this season, it is unlikely the youngster will get many opportunities next season. It is particularly due to the fact that Spurs are planning for a potential revamp in the midfield department, having already been strongly linked with a move for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Additionally, Mourinho may finally look to integrate Gedson into the starting lineup in the new season. The Portuguese starlet has endured a slow start to his career in north London but could gain a more prominent role in the first-team. As a result, we may see very little of Skipp.
Is Fulham an ideal destination?
A loan move to Fulham is an ideal scenario for Skipp at the moment. The Cotaggers have been promoted to the Premier League, and following the return of Harrison Reed to Southampton, they will be looking for an anchorman in central midfield. That is where the youngster could make an impact.
Indeed, Skipp could thrive alongside someone like Tom Cairney. Although there will be competition, it is certainly more favourable than his current situation at Fulham. Therefore, it is fair to assume that a move to Craven Cottage could help the Englishman further his career and give him an ideal platform to showcase his talents in the Premier League next season.
