Reports from Italy on Friday claimed that Inter Milan are showing interest in Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp – and while the Spurs star may want more game time, selling Skipp would be Antonio Conte’s biggest failing as manager.
Skipp, 22, has managed little over 200 minutes of action this season spread across nine outings in all competitions. A poor figure. The England Under-21 star is a player with huge potential, but has earned just two League starts.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur are quite rightly, Conte’s first midfield picks. But Skipp is a player with huge promise and has deserved to be used more often than he has. More rotation is required at Spurs, under Conte.
With January approaching, Skipp may be considering a loan move in order to gain more minutes. His last loan worked wonders, at Norwich. Italian site CMW say Inter Milan are keen, and it might even be a permanent move.
Selling Tottenham midfielder Skipp would be Conte’s biggest failing
For a player that was once deemed a future captain of the club by Jose Mourinho, Skipp has deserved more of a chance. He will know that himself. Conte might even admit that Skipp should have got more minutes this term.
But Conte’s willingness to win every match and use players he trusts, regardless of tiredness or little niggles, has left Skipp warming the bench. There is every chance, with Bentancur out, Skipp could start against Villa on Sunday.
If Skipp decides to leave and Inter pursue a permanent deal, it would be Conte’s biggest failing. Skipp would only want to leave his boyhood club, if he does, because of a lack of game time. Inter would prove tempting, if so.
So, it would be Conte’s lack of rotation, and therefore, the Italian’s fault if Skipp does pursue a move. It would see Spurs wave goodbye to one of their biggest talents. That, would be a big negative during Conte’s Spurs tenure.
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