On the latest episode of the Last Word On Spurs podcast, Ricky Sacks, John Wenham, Harry Brooks and Leon Emirali have been reflecting on the 1-0 win against Everton from earlier in the week and looking ahead to Thursday’s clash with Bournemouth.
One topic of discussion on the recent episode, which was titled: ‘Fighting For Spurs‘, was midfielder Harry Winks. The Englishman produced a solid performance in Monday’s win against Everton, earning a 6.96 rating. However, it seems as if he hasn’t won over all of those on the podcast with his performances this season, which is perhaps understandable, as his overall average rating in the Premier League ahead of Thursday’s game with Bournemouth stood at a disappointing 6.51 (per WhoScored).
Here’s what Emirali had to say about the 24-year-old:
“I think it is brilliant that he is a homegrown lad and obviously, he loves the club, but for me, I struggle to see what he adds to the team. I just struggle to know what sort of player he is, what he’s doing that makes him a name on that starting 11 and I just don’t see it at the minute and I’m not sure he is a Jose [Mourinho] player.
“I think Winks is a bit of a luxury, and it pains me to say that, because I really, really do want him to succeed. But he’s been in and around the team long enough now and we’ve not really seen him kick on in the way that certainly a lot of fans would have hoped.
“Maybe he needs a loan period, maybe somewhere abroad, just to broaden his horizons a little bit, learn a bit more about football – he’s not the finished article by any stretch – and maybe come back at Spurs and see what he can do.
“He’s not going to be the first name on the team sheet going forward, I think there’s a lot of options in midfield and he [Mourinho] seems to prefer [Moussa] Sissoko and obviously [Giovani] Lo Celso as the sort of midfield pairing, so I don’t see Winks starting game after game, but I really hope he kicks on and stays at Spurs – that’s what my heart says. My head says I don’t think he will do, I think he’ll probably move on after next season if he doesn’t get a good run and if he doesn’t improve.”
TIF Thoughts…
Winks has certainly struggled this season; with no goals or assists in all competitions (prior to Thursday’s game with Bournemouth), and perhaps Emirali is right to suggest that the 24-year-old could do with a loan spell away from the club.
Would you sell Winks?
Yes
No
Should Mourinho choose to cash in on Winks this summer in order to raise funds for transfers, the fact he is rated at £28.8 million could mean that he may command a hefty fee.
With the likes of Oliver Skipp and Harvey White returning to training with the first team in recent weeks, too, they could step in as Winks’ replacement should he be sold.