“Concerning” – Claim made on Oliver Skipp situation at Leicester City.

This post is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which features unique perspectives from our FLW Fan Pundits on the most recent breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings, and more…

Oliver Skipp’s debut season at Leicester City has been characterised as a “disaster” by one of our Foxes fan pundits, but the former Spurs player is expected to improve and become a vital player in the Championship if Russell Martin is selected as their new head coach ahead of next season.

The Foxes were relegated to the Championship with five games remaining last month. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s future as manager is questionable, and ex-Southampton manager Martin is expected to take charge soon.

Skipp, a defensive midfielder signed from Spurs for up to £25 million in August, struggled to contribute to the club’s survival and was regularly benched behind Wilfred Ndidi and Boubakary Soumare.

Skipp spent the majority of his first-team career at Tottenham as a backup after rising through the club’s development divisions and appearing 106 times in five seasons.

His first taste of sustained senior play came on loan to Norwich in the 2020/21 season, where he made 47 appearances in all competitions and helped the Canaries win the Championship as a regular under Daniel Farke. He was also named to the PFA’s Second-tier Team of the Season for his outstanding individual performances.

Leicester City outbid newly promoted Premier League club Ipswich Town for his talents after Spurs allowed him to leave permanently last summer.

The Foxes forked out a hefty £25m to sign the 24-year-old, but they are yet to see much return on their investment as yet.

Skipp appeared in 28 league and cup games in his debut season at the King Power Stadium, making only 12 league starts and scoring 0 goals. Leicester never looked like staying up under Steve Cooper or van Nistelrooy, and he was only a passenger on their sinking ship.

 

According to FLW’s Foxes fan pundit Lochlainn Martin, Skipp’s performance has been underwhelming since joining the club. Martin also expressed surprise at the high cost paid to sign him from Spurs last summer.

However, he believes the England youth international will progress in the Championship next season because of his previous league form and the potential to be successfully used by Martin if he is hired as their new head coach.

“Oliver Skipp signing for Leicester last summer raised a lot of eyebrows, and that was purely based on the fee – £20 million rising to 25, apparently, with add-ons,” Louchlainn told the BBC.

“In retrospect, it is simple for us to sit here and say what a horrible piece of business that was, but even back then, the fee was very alarming.

“I believe that many Leicester fans, both then and today, wonder if they might have gotten someone better or of comparable quality for considerably less than £20 million.

“Look at Harry Winks, who we signed for £8 million a year ago, and now you’re telling me Oliver Skipp is worth twice as much? I do not believe he is.

“There’s no doubt in my view that Skipp is more than capable of playing in the Championship. This is undeniably true.

“He was named to the Championship Team of the Season a few years ago while on loan at Norwich, and he had a fantastic year there.

“I realise it’s been a few years, but I have no faith that he can adjust and return to playing football at that level.

“But then, you’re talking about a £20 million player playing in the Championship; he’s got to be able to perform at that level for that money.

“I have nothing personal against Oliver Skipp. I don’t detest the guy, but this season has been a complete mess.

“He hasn’t been assisted by the horrible squad he has around him, but he hasn’t done anything to improve himself or anyone else’s performance.

“I believe we’re going to be stuck with him. No one is going to pay anything close to what we paid, so I believe the club will keep him.

“He has two years left on his contract, and we will have to strive to make the most of him.

“Would he fit within the Russell Martin system? I believe he would. You’ve seen what Flynn Downes accomplished for him last season (2023/24), and I believe Skipp can do something similar.

 

Skipp has previously been a vital guy in the Championship—he should be given the opportunity to shine next season.

Skipp struggled to make an effect at Leicester in his debut season, but he was not alone in the difficulty during their top-flight return. Only a few players emerged from the campaign with any credit among supporters.

With that said, he may well be in line for increased minutes in the Championship next season, regardless of who comes in as their new head-coach, with numerous midfield departures expected in the coming months.

Wilfred Ndidi’s contract includes a £9 million relegation release clause, prompting interest from Everton, Fulham, and Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, the club is preparing to sell Boubakary Soumare, with AS Monaco, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar also interested.

In his previous Championship season, the 24-year-old and his Norwich teammates dominated the league under Daniel Farke, finishing first with 97 points.

Skipp was described by the German manager at the time as a “top player and also a top character,” so he is undoubtedly in a good position to become a key player in the second tier once more next season, especially with a few more years of experience under his belt and a desire to prove his Foxes doubters wrong.

Skipp undoubtedly has talent and the potential to become an even greater player in the future, and Leicester evidently saw something in him during his time at Spurs and Norwich to pay a sizable £25 million on his services last summer.

No matter who is in charge for 2025/26, they have to give the 24-year-old ample opportunities to prove himself as an important player to the club after such a disappointing maiden campaign.

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