According to Mirror, Harry Winks is tipped to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the event of the potential arrival of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The Southampton midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to north London this summer, and the report claims that Winks could be the player to be sacrificed if the Dane does complete a move to Spurs.
The report further states that Tottenham Hotspur are dealing with limited funds amid Coronavirus crisis. As a result, club chairmen Daniel Levy is likely to force Jose Mourinho to balance the books if he does sign someone.
Harry Winks’ Spell Under Jose Mourinho So Far
When Mourinho joined Tottenham last year, it had been thought that his defence-oriented style of play will not precisely suit Winks and will instead favour the likes of Eric Dier and Moussa Sissoko.
Since the turn of the year, however, the Englishman has become a vital member of Tottenham midfield, though mainly due to the futility of the likes of Sissoko, Dier and new signing Tanguy Ndombele. So far, Winks has made 30 appearances in the Premier League so far, becoming an ever-present figure in the starting lineup this year.
From a tactical perspective, Winks’ passing oriented game has added more composure to the Spurs midfield, and it has combined well with the more robust and dynamic nature of Sissoko, thus adding another dimension to their game.
How Hojbjerg Could Affect Winks’ role At Spurs
Although Winks is, no doubt, a gifted passer of the ball, he still lacks the physical prowess as well as the consistency that would make him an ideal fit under Mourinho. That is where the Portuguese mastermind could prefer the more robust and hard-working figure of Hojberg.
The Danish midfielder is a crucial component to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s high-pressing system at Southampton. His ability to read the game and win back possession for his team should ideally enhance Spurs’ solidity in the second line of press. Also, he is more experienced at the highest level of football, making him a viable option for Spurs.
Hojbjerg’s all-round qualities could finally allow Mourinho to deploy more technically astute players like Ndombele or Giovani Lo Celso in the double-pivot. And hence, it could take a massive toll on Winks’ current role of a regular first-team player.
Should Tottenham Offload Winks?
Winks departing Tottenham in the summer would certainly be a shocker given the fact that he has been one of the most promising players to come out of the club’s youth academy over the past few years. But somehow, the Englishman hasn’t been able to fulfil his potential yet.
At the same time, however, Winks does have the quality to become an asset for any Premier League side. And it would perhaps be wiser for him to start fresh and build himself up by moving to a mid-table club this summer.
As for Tottenham, they will be more than happy to get Hojbjerg, at the expense of their prized midfielder as Mourinho looks to undergo a potential squad overhaul this summer.
