Scout Report – Alex Pritchard
Huddersfield Town are understood to be on the verge of signing Norwich City attacking midfielder Alex Pritchard. A deal of £14million is believed to be on the table and the move is likely to be announced officially once personal terms are agreed with the player. Norwich were initially reluctant on letting a promising player like Pritchard leave but Huddersfield managed to improve their offer to tempt them into releasing him.
David Wagner is in dire need of boosting his team’s attacking forces and Pritchard does seem like a sturdy option for the same. Let’s take a closer look at his profile.
History
Born in 1993 in Orsett, England, Pritchard forayed into the world of football when he joined West Ham United as a youth player. He did last long there since he moved to Tottenham Hotspur’s youth set-up soon after and he rapidly progressed through the ranks to establish himself as a regular in the U18 team. Although he spent close to five years at the club, Pritchard was extensively sent out on loan deals to clubs like Peterborough United, Swindon Town, Brentford and West Bromwich Albion.
In 2015, he signed a new four-year deal with Spurs but the following year, he chose to join Norwich City on a permanent transfer in search of more game time. Having been with the club ever since, Pritchard is set to move back to the Premier League with Huddersfield.
Playing Style
Pritchard is a skilled crosser and has some mean dribbling skills as well. He is quite creative, which is illustrated in his ability to score goals and orchestrate chances on any given occasion. He can hold on to the ball quite well and is adept at taking set-pieces. Although he is strong in long-range shooting, Pritchard seems to prefer making shorter and more effective passes to maintain fluidity in the game. However, he does lack defensive contribution.
Pritchard’s Future
Joining Huddersfield is likely to be a big step in Pritchard’s career so far. It will definitely propel him to greater heights and fame, and it is possible that Wagner would want to play him as soon as he joins. The Terriers have struggled to score goals in several matches, which eventually cost them a lot of points.
Regardless, there’s time left and the club will be pushing to secure a higher finish by the time the season ends. To that extent, Pritchard could truly work wonders at Huddersfield and it will be interesting to see what he makes of this opportunity.