Daniel Farke says Norwich City are unlikely to sign Tottenham Hotspur loanee Oliver Skipp on a permanent basis, telling the Pink ‘Un that the midfielder would cost ‘an unbelievable amount of money’.
The Canaries are not a club who tend to splash the cash.
Even during their Championship title-winning season in 2019, Norwich were a team built on intelligent bargain signings a la Teemu Pukki and Emi Buendia.
In fact, Sam McCallum, the young left-back on loan at Coventry, is the only player to have arrived at Carrow Road over the last three years for a fee in excess of £3 million.
So, unless Tottenham are open to another short-term deal, the chances of Skipp wearing green and yellow next season look decidedly slim.
“He was one of my biggest wishes to bring in last summer, so compliments to (the highly-rated sporting director) Stuart Webber for making it happen,” head coach Farke explained.
“This was perfect business. The best piece of business is always a permanent move when you are fully convinced and you commit the club’s future to a player, and they do likewise.
“We would never be able to sign a highly-rated player like Oliver Skipp. Not on a permanent deal. It would be an unbelievable amount of money for our club.
“We saw the potential, we looked into his character a lot and we knew he would be fully convinced to give everything, not thinking I don’t need to work to prove I am the best in my position.
“Oliver is a perfect lad. So humble. He is a brilliant loan signing.”
An intelligent, mature and technically gifted midfield player, Skipp has started every one of Norwich’s 34 Championship games during a season that looks destined to end in silverware once again.
In fact, the youngster has been so impressive that, according to The Athletic, Tottenham seriously considered re-calling him in January.
Norwich, and Farke, will be glad they didn’t.
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