Sideways Sammy

Victor Torp arrives at Coventry City as the kind of permanent signing for a good fee that simply was not happening under previous ownership. While the addition of Torp still has to be viewed in the wake of the fees raised over the summer via the sales of Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer, the level of investment in both the player himself and the scouting and analytics that would have gone into identifying Torp’s talent is an indication that the club is morphing into a smarter, more professional model under Doug King. The Danish midfielder was one of the star talents in the Norwegian top-flight last season and is at an age where he will grow while with the Sky Blues, he is the type of signing that smart clubs at this level would make but now it is up to both the player and the coaching team to make this move a success.

Victor Torp looks to have been recruited to fill the hole in the team that was left by the departure of Gustavo Hamer late in the summer, which was only addressed by the since-departed loan signing of Yasin Ayari. Based on his time in Norway, Torp looks to be addressing the creative and goal-scoring sides of the Hamer void, being an attack-minded presence in midfield who can either push on from deep or play just behind the centre-forward. Someone who can carry the ball in midfield and has a level of physical presence to him, Torp looks best-suited to playing alongside Ben Sheaf in central midfield, which could allow Sheaf to focus on influencing the game from deep, rather than trying to create and score goals. Torp also provides a threat from his set-piece delivery, which could well be another area of improvement that he will provide the team.

The immediate challenge for Victor Torp will be getting into the team, arriving having last played a game at the start of December, at the end of the Norwegian season, and with the Sky Blues in form with a pretty settled team. Combined with the challenge that other arrivals from foreign shores this season have had in adapting to Championship football, it is likely to be a month or two before any pressure should be placed on Victor Torp’s performance levels. It should be a boost, however, to have someone who is likely to be fresher than his teammates towards the back end of the campaign and that may be where Torp will begin to make an impact. While Victor Torp is someone being signed to make an impact beyond the end of the campaign, he could well provide that something different to help the team achieve its immediate goals this season.