Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks is attracting increasing interest in the summer transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Italian journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that, after the central midfielder was informed by Antonio Conte that he is no longer a part of Tottenham’s first-team plans, Sampdoria are now showing an interest in the 26-year-old – although AS Roma are not thought to be a potential suitor.
However, a further Dan Kilpatrick report for the Evening Standard revealed that, despite the Serie A side’s interest in the England international, Winks would prefer to remain at a Premier League club – with Southampton and Nottingham Forest mentioned as two sides who could make a move for the midfielder over the remainder of the summer transfer window.
In his tweet, Romano said: “Sampdoria are showing interest in Harry Winks, no talks with Roma as things stand.”
Winks must go
While it is undeniable that, when played in a system that suits his style, Winks is a very useful option to be able to call upon, considering just how little the midfielder has been utilised ever since Conte’s arrival at Spurs last November, coupled with the fact that Tottenham’s bloated squad could very much do with trimming, the argument that Fabio Paratici must do all he can to move the 26-year-old on in the coming days is an easy one to make.
Indeed, following the Italian’s appointment as Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor in the Tottenham dugout last year, the £13.5m-rated talent has started just eight Premier League fixtures, as well as making a further nine appearances as a substitute – playing a total of a mere 845 minutes of top-flight football under the 52-year-old manager.
So far this season, the £50k-per-week academy graduate who John Wenham dubbed “terrible” is yet to make an appearance in any of Tottenham’s matchday squads over their three Premier League fixtures – further proving just how far down Conte’s pecking order the 10-cap international truly is.
And, when considering Winks is up against the likes of Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur – the latter two of whom were signed during Conte’s reign – for one of the two central midfield spots in the Italian’s 3-4-3 setup, it is not hard to understand why the former Inter Milan coach is willing to let the 26-year-old leave this summer.
As such, when taking into account his considerable weekly wage, unsuitably to Conte’s style of football and the fact that Spurs currently possess great depth in the middle of the park, Paratici simply must ensure that Winks is moved onto pastures new before September’s transfer deadline – as this would appear a move that would suit everyone involved.
