According to recent reports by TEAMtalk, Leeds United target Oliver Skipp has no interest in leaving Tottenham Hotspur to play in the Championship this summer.
23-year-old Skipp reportedly has no interest in dropping down to the Championship once again, with the Spurs midfielder already playing a stint in the league under current Leeds boss Daniel Farke when the German was in charge at Norwich City during the 2020/21 season.
The Englishman midfielder has a host of top-level experience, with the English youngster being a staple in the Spurs team under Antonio Conte. Following the arrival of Ange Postecoglu, Skipp has fallen out of favour, making only five starting appearances under the Australian last season. Despite his recent links with a move to Elland Road, the English midfielder allegedly has no interest in joining the West Yorkshire club.
Farke’s midfield options have already taken a hit this season, following the departure of Archie Gray to Spurs for a reported £40 million fee and with Glen Kamara leaving the Championship side to join Rennes in Ligue 1. The club have already been making moves to rectify this situation, with Joe Rothwell joining from Premier League side Bournemouth.
The Yorkshire side could also be set to lose some of their biggest talents to top-flight clubs following their failure to make the step up to the Premier League, with Crysensio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto set to depart the club this summer.
Speaking on Football Insider’s The Inside Track Podcast recently, former Aston Villa and Everton CEO Keith Wyness had this to say about the situation:
“Mass exodus would be an exaggeration, but certainly there could be four or five exits.
“It’s a big number and it will be a huge blow to the quality of the squad, we’ll have to watch Leeds United very carefully, it’s going to be a tough window.
“I expect a lot of clubs to wait until the last minute, and that’s when a lot of pressure will be put on Leeds.
“This is when a chief executive and board members earn their crust, dealing with the players and their agents, it’s going to be brutal, these clubs know the numbers are difficult.
“I hope it happens in an orderly fashion and they get the offers they want, but I’ve got a funny feeling it could be a chaotic summer at Elland Road.”
Writer’s View
Failure to return to the Premier League could cost Leeds United dearly in the long run, with players like Skipp being unwilling to make the drop-down to a lower level, and current key figures in the squad like Summerville and Gnonto looking to leave the club to play at a higher level. It’s never been more clear just how costly the failure of last season has been for the Whites in the long run.
It’s also evident that, financially, the Yorkshire side are not in a good place right now. With most of their recent dealings being more based on outgoings than arrivals, Elland Road will potentially have to see more players heading for the exit door than arrivals coming into the club.
