According to The Sun, Manchester City are ready to make a swoop for Harry Winks. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has emerged as a target for Pep Guardiola, who is reportedly lining up a shock £40 million bid to secure his services. Winks is believed to have an uncertain future at Spurs following the arrival of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Harry Winks’ 2019/20 campaign at Spurs
In what was Tottenham’s worst season in quite some time, Winks endured a mixed 2019/20 campaign, chock-full of ups and downs. His place in the starting lineup was initially threatened by the big-money arrivals of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso. It was combined with the appointment of Jose Mourinho, whose tactical philosophy wasn’t exactly suited to the player’s style.
Contrary to expectations, however, Winks became a regular fixture for Tottenham Hotspur, under the leadership of Mourinho. He was partly helped by Ndombele failing to live up to the expectations, while Lo Celso was utilised in a more attacking role. Christian Eriksen also left the club, which was coupled with Dele Alli’s rapid decline.
As a result, Winks ended up making 31 Premier League appearances this past season. The club lost only one game since the restart, a game where the young midfielder was absent from the starting lineup.
Should Mourinho offload Winks this summer?
Mourinho primarily used Winks alongside Moussa Sissoko in the double-pivot, with Lo Celso operating as a number ten. However, the recent addition of Hojbjerg means the Portuguese mastermind now has the services of someone who can provide the energy and tenacity of Sissoko while maintaining an impressive pass accuracy like Winks.
It could nullify the need for an additional midfielder, which, in turn, should allow Mourinho to deploy Lo Celso in that number eight role. The Argentine used to play in that position for Real Betis, and him going back to central midfield should open space for Alli to return to the starting lineup.
However, the biggest positive from offloading Winks is that it could offer Tottenham the financial incentive to go and find other reinforcements in the market, especially with Manchester City willing to splash £40 million for the services of the young midfielder.
As mentioned earlier, Winks might not be needed in Spurs midfield next season, and his potential departure should even allow youngsters like Oliver Skipp to gain a more prominent role in the first-team. It is combined with his hefty valuation that does bode well for the Lilywhties, especially at a time when the club’s finances have taken a massive hit.
