Getting his just rewards for a fine career so far.
I think that’s the only way you can really describe the latest deal that’s set to take place at Fulham.
According to reports in Belgian outlet Walfoot, defender Denis Odoi has signed a new two-year contract at the club, keeping him here until the summer of 2022. The 32-year-old first joined the club in the summer of 2016 and has gone on to be one of the more dependable players in that time, playing across the backline, and racking up 149 appearances in the process, and scoring one of the more important goals in our history along the way.
So to hear that he has signed a new deal is a positive thing in my eyes, but on one condition, he remains a utility player in the squad, and not part of the first-team on a regular basis.
Does Odoi deserve his new deal?
Yes
No
We’ve seen this summer that the club want to get younger especially in defence, targeting the likes of Ola Aina and Kenny Tete, but that doesn’t mean that his time at the club should be up. His maturity and experience are going to be crucial to us moving forward, especially given the congested season that we’re going to face this campaign.
To have someone like that to turn to when the younger players need a rest, not the mention what he can offer them in terms of a mentor will be invaluable to the club going forward.
Even though he did an incredible job in the Championship last season, I just can’t shake off the knowledge of how bad he was (as was the whole team mind you) during our last Premier League stint.
Now another year older, I can’t see how he’s going to have gotten so much better to where he’ll be a good consistent Premier League defender.
On the odd occasion, he’ll do fine. But as a regular, I don’t think so.