Harry Winks - Leicester City

[TH1239]

I highly doubt we're going to be spending much in the next couple windows, and the only one of the 4 you mentioned that seems realistic (fee + importance to their club) is McGinn, who isn't a bad shout btw.

Apart from that if you're sticking to HG options I think Isaac Hayden is underrated and could do a job as a PEH backup and potential Sissoko replacement. Not the flashiest player but tidy enough on the ball, good in defense, and a very hard worker.

Big lack of quality in <26 year old HG center mids right now though so don't know if moving Winks on is in our best interest.

If we look outside of HG then the options expand a bit. Some EPL players that could be decent fits at reasonable prices (particularly if relegated) are Sander Berge (Sheff Utd), Zambo Anguissa (Fulham), Bissouma (Brighton), and Douglas Luiz (Villa).

The best replacement for Winks is Ruben Neves. He can play as a defensive midfielder or in an advanced role, and his ball striking ability would be such a great asset against teams that sit back. Sell Winks and Dele and Neves essentially can replace what they both bring to the squad. With the Mourinho and Mendes connection, it's a very doable deal if we raise funds from sales.

 

[Montalbano]

I’m really really struggling to see a situation in which Winks stays at the club long term...for me he just doesn’t cut it...

You look at someone like Skipp smashing up the Championship..would he offer more than Winks does now? For me he does, because at the moment, HW offers us almost nothing...

It’s a real shame, as I like Winks, he is Spurs through and through and a real fan...but that only takes someone so far. Even he has said he may need to consider his future in regards to the England squad in the summer.

I’m not saying he is a bad player, but in this current Spurs team, with the way we play, I don’t think he offers what we need. He is still young, and realistically a £30m+ player, and there’d definitely be a market for him as he walks into half of the sides in the PL.

Who do you replace him with? Skipp would be the obvious choice, providing he is ready. As Winks is a HG player, I was thinking of HG alternatives...

James Ward-Prowse - A potential option, a year older than Winks, and a tidy player. I don’t think he offers masses and have personally never been super impressed with him. However, his presence on set pieces would be a massive asset.

Kalvin Phillips - Someone who I think will become a very good player, still young and breaking into the England side. If Leeds have a predictable mid-table finish, he could be on the move...think he could do the Hjobjerg role...

John McGinn - A tidy player who I like, has a little something in his locker, always moves and carries the ball well.

Declan Rice - Personally don’t rate him. poor mans Dier in my opinion, but he does a job I suppose...Chelsea bound I imagine.


Just a few options there, I do think it will be Skipp, but if you sell Winks for £30m that is immediately the majority of the Vinny money covered, addressing other issues in the squad.

Just my opinion, but much like Mason and Carrol, we have simply progressed and he has fallen too far behind.

If Winks is on his way out, Kalvin Phillips looks a very good player and is the ideal home-grown replacement for me. He strikes me as the type of player Mourinho would like — athletic, physical, and creative. Phillips also has strong dead-ball ability (although he definitely isn't as good as JWP in this respect). I think he would be excellent both playing alongside Hojbjerg and as a replacement in his absence. Interestingly enough he also follows Mourinho on Instagram so I'd expect he would pick up the phone if he came calling..

I'd say JWP would also be an upgrade on Winks. He arguably has the best dead-ball ability in the league at the moment, has past chemistry with Hojbjerg, and I think his all around game has been improving (only 9 fewer ball recoveries than Hojbjerg thus far this season). However, JWP is more of a box-to-box midfielder than a pure holding midfielder to me, which is less of priority at the moment with Sissoko, Lo Celso, and Ndombele all capable centre midfielders.

Of the other names you mentioned, McGinn is a very good player but is actually non-HG as he was playing in the SPL until he was 23. I rate Rice as well but he seems to be Chelsea through-and-through so I'd also imagine he'll be holding off for that move to materialize.

Another name I'd mention as a home grown DM option would be Ben White. He's been playing both as a DM and CB for Brighton this season and gives me 2015/2016 Dier vibes. He impressed me in midfield when we played Brighton a few weeks back.

 

[spids]

If we are serious about winning the PL and CL then we need to improve the (one or two) weakest aspects of our team each year by signing players of the calibre of Thiago. Currently our weakest positions are the one in CM that Winks and Sissoko are fighting over, and CB (even if Rodon hits the ground running, Sanchez's form and Toby's age mean we need another CB next summer).

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Winks, Skipp, PEH group is a decent set of midfielders

 

[ajspurs]

The best replacement for Winks is Ruben Neves. He can play as a defensive midfielder or in an advanced role, and his ball striking ability would be such a great asset against teams that sit back. Sell Winks and Dele and Neves essentially can replace what they both bring to the squad. With the Mourinho and Mendes connection, it's a very doable deal if we raise funds from sales.

Is Neves still the same player? I haven't watched him so I really don't know but you barely hear him being mentioned these days.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

The best replacement for Winks is Ruben Neves. He can play as a defensive midfielder or in an advanced role, and his ball striking ability would be such a great asset against teams that sit back. Sell Winks and Dele and Neves essentially can replace what they both bring to the squad. With the Mourinho and Mendes connection, it's a very doable deal if we raise funds from sales.

I haven't seen much evidence of Neves being effective in an advanced role. Moutinho still outshines him in that role despite his age. Was pretty telling that Nuno subbed out Neves, and not Moutinho, yesterday when Wolves were chasing a goal. He's a good player but seems a bit overhyped still based on some of his Championship goals. More of a Xabi Alonso lite IMO.

Also highly disagree with moving on two of our best young English players (especially considering the lack of talented young English players, particularly CMs) to get Neves. The only player I'd be ok with shifting on both Winks AND Dele for would be Jude Bellingham. In this environment you don't just throw away HG players.

 

[Tottenhamboys]

Winks looking elsewhere now for Jan

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Shouldn't Winks at least stay until summer in case there's a trophy to be won with Spurs before he leaves?

 

[Montalbano]

Shouldn't Winks at least stay until summer in case there's a trophy to be won with Spurs before he leaves?

Landing a spot in England's Euro squad is more important to him it seems ?‍

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Landing a spot in England's Euro squad is more important to him it seems ?‍

An amateur's summer tournament with an early exit. OK.

 

[mr ashley]

Winks looking elsewhere now for Jan

Wow that’s a shame.
Could see him edging out Sissoko eventually as the season progresses, as he offers much more on the ball.
Can only imagine he’s been told that he’s not close to starting and has decided that he needs to leave to guarantee an England place.
Wonder where he’s looking to move to?
Would Everton be keen? Or Leicester?
Other than that, what other clubs might match his ambitions?

 

[carpediem991]

If he really moves on we need to bring a CM in first that can replace Sissoko or Hojbjerg. And in best case home grown, dont really see it.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Wow that’s a shame.
Could see him edging out Sissoko eventually as the season progresses, as he offers much more on the ball.
Can only imagine he’s been told that he’s not close to starting and has decided that he needs to leave to guarantee an England place.
Wonder where he’s looking to move to?
Would Everton be keen? Or Leicester?
Other than that, what other clubs might match his ambitions?

Sorry mate but no chance of that, Sissoko offers much more in terms of his all-round game especially the way Jose likes to play with height, pace and power. Winksy is a great guy and i'd like him to stay until summer but he's not getting in our best 18 squad at the moment when all our fit so if he wants to move on then fair enough.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

If he really moves on we need to bring a CM in first that can replace Sissoko or Hojbjerg. And in best case home grown, dont really see it.

Skipp will come back next year to be back-up to PEH but if we sell winks in Jan then I agree we'd need to replace him which would be difficult which is why i think it would be more likely he'd stay until Summer. I think Sabitzer is the next step in our midfield, if we sold Dele and Winks I think we could get Sabitzer as replacement and then bring back Skipp.

 

[andrewt]

Wow that’s a shame.
Could see him edging out Sissoko eventually as the season progresses, as he offers much more on the ball.
Can only imagine he’s been told that he’s not close to starting and has decided that he needs to leave to guarantee an England place.
Wonder where he’s looking to move to?
Would Everton be keen? Or Leicester?
Other than that, what other clubs might match his ambitions?

villa?

 

[mr ashley]

Sorry mate but no chance of that, Sissoko offers much more in terms of his all-round game especially the way Jose likes to play with height, pace and power. Winksy is a great guy and i'd like him to stay until summer but he's not getting in our best 18 squad at the moment when all our fit so if he wants to move on then fair enough.

That’s fair enough. I suppose I’d like as many of our club trained players to cement a place in the first XI, and hope that with guidance winks could develop his defensive play easier than sissoko can develop his ability to show for the ball and play a forward pass.
That position in midfield beside Hojbjerg is still up for grabs in my opinion. But if winks has been given the nod that he’s a way off being a starter, then a move is the most important thing for him at this stage.

 

[Joshua]

Need another centre mid then if he’s off and it looks as if Gedson might be going home early. Skipp coming back would help but would be reluctant to re-call him since his loan at Norwich is going so well. Could also do with Winks’ replacement being homegrown which makes it tougher. Not many options.

 

[mr ashley]

villa?

Yes that was an option I considered.
Adding winks to Barkley, McGinn and Grealish gives them a strong PL quality midfield that would keep them in the top half

 

[Montalbano]

Was linked with a move to City over the summer. Would be interesting if they follow up on their interest in January. Can't imagine he'd have much better luck breaking into their midfield over ours though. Maybe if Poch is at United before February he'll bring over Winksy with him.

Since he appears to be searching for playing time, Southampton, Villa, Newcastle, West Ham, and maybe Leeds seem like decent suitors for him. I honestly think he'd struggle to break into Leicester, Everton, and Wolves' midfield.

 

[ikky]

Loan or permanent? If permanent along with Ali, Gazza, and even Sanchez ( who seems to have dropped down the pecking order, even behind Rodon ) that’s quite a bit of money we could make to replace them and strengthen the team.