In a recent interview with Football Insider, former Premier League forward Gabriel Agbonlahor backed Aston Villa to land Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks this summer. Agbonlahor said, “I think Winks is a good player.
“But we can’t underestimate the talent we’ve got in midfield already.
“Winks would be a great signing but I wouldn’t pick Winks before John McGinn, Douglas Luiz or Marvelous Nakamba.
“Just because he’s a good player it doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to get into the team.
“Maybe as a player who can push McGinn and Luiz then he’s definitely worth bringing in. But he wouldn’t come in and be a guaranteed starter.”
Winks’ Unimpressive Season At North London
Winks had an up and down season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season as he struggled to find consistency with his performances at the centre of the park. The English midfield ace scored two goals and earned two assists in 30 matches for Spurs in the previous campaign across multiple competitions.
The 25-year-old was far from consistent in midfield after he averaged 1.1 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 0.7 clearances per game in the Premier League. Still, he deserves a pat on the back for completing 84.9% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
Is Winks The Right Fit For The Villans?
Winks is a hard-working midfielder who can keep possession moving quite well at the centre of the park. He can get stuck in with some solid tackles to hamper the opposition’s flow in the game and doesn’t take too many chances with his clearances. The English sensation has added a few goals and assists to his game but is in dire need of improving his productivity in the final third.
Making a switch to Villa Park could help Winks earn regular playing time and improve his overall game in the coming seasons. He could enjoy playing in Dean Smith’s 4-2-3-1 system and could excel playing alongside someone like John McGinn in midfield.
Winks might also be an upgrade over Douglas Luiz, who flattered to deceive with his performances for the Villans last season. At 25, the Tottenham midfielder has plenty of time to turn his career around for the better, so the Villa head coach might fancy getting the best out of him over the next few years. Despite his average form at the English capital, Winks has the potential to become a valuable squad player for the West Midlands club which makes him a decent fit for Smith’s team ahead of the new campaign.
