Oliver Skipp signs new Tottenham contract to provide Conte boost before return
Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that a new contract for Oliver Skipp has been completed and signed, keeping him at the club for another five seasons.
Skipp is currently sidelined due to an injury, which has kept him out of action since early February. However, his employers have been proactive in that time, working to extend his contract.
His previous deal was due to run until 2024, but Tottenham Hotspur have now confirmed they have prolonged his stay until 2027.
It means the midfielder will be able to build on what has been a breakout year with the club, after returning from a productive loan spell with Norwich City ahead of the start of this season.
Skipp has played 28 times across all competitions for Tottenham in 2021-22. That has included 18 Premier League appearances, of which 14 have been starts.
Still only 21 years old, Skipp has been showing his potential. He was relied upon by both Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte until his injury.
Tottenham have a lot of faith in him for when he returns. As such, he should be a big part of their future going forwards.
Who joins him in Conte’s midfield will become clearer over time. They signed Rodrigo Bentancur in January but allowed Tanguy Ndombele, Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso to leave.
It means the only other options in the squad at present, besides Bentancur and Skipp, are Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Winks. Eric Dier could also play there, but has been a defender more often in recent months.
Whatever happens to the makeup of Tottenham’s midfield, Skipp should be a part of it for the long-term. The new contract will take him towards his prime years, so Spurs will be hoping he continues his upwards trajectory.
Skipp ‘delighted’ with new deal
Speaking to Spurs TV, the England under-21 international said: “I’m delighted to sign this new deal. It’s something that I’m very grateful for.
“It means a lot when you’ve grown up at this club; my whole family support the club.”
Skipp is not yet able to commit to a return date from his injury. But he has been working hard to prepare for when he is back at Conte’s disposal.
He added: “In those few months that I had with the boss when he first came in, I think I was really starting to improve and to understand his philosophy.
“I think you can see that in the team, everyone implementing his ideas. I think he’s a coach that’ll push you and I think that really helps me in terms of, I’m always someone who wants to be going to the next level, the next target.
“So I feel like I was playing well but there was still a lot of improvement that can definitely be had.
“Even when I’ve been injured, I’ve been in all the meetings, watching training. So you’re still, although you’re not out on the grass, you’re still understanding the concepts that he wants, the philosophy.”
READ MORE: Tottenham cannot shake Conte fear as boss becomes favourite to return to former club
The post Oliver Skipp signs new Tottenham contract to provide Conte boost before return appeared first on TEAMtalk.