Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Danny Murphy admits he is surprised to see Harry Winks on his way to Leicester City with the England international ‘better than Oliver Skipp’.
When the appointment of former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou was confirmed by Spurs at the start of June, some may have wondered what this meant for a player who – not so long ago – was one of the first names on the team sheet for both Mauricio Pochettino and England boss Gareth Southgate.
Would Harry Winks be offered a fresh start by a coach who prefers brains over brawn in the centre of midfield? Would Winks’ tidy distribution and his ability to keep the ball under pressure lead him to becoming something akin to Tottenham’s answer to Callum McGregor, the Celtic skipper who took his game to a whole-new level under Postecoglou?
Harry Winks leaving Tottenham for Leicester
Reports from the Standard suggesting that Winks has agreed a £10 million move to recently-relegated Leicester City, however, are emphatically killed off any talk of a North London revival.
And Murphy is not the only one who has been taken aback by the speed and the extent of Winks’ demise; heading to the Championship just four years after starting for Spurs in the Champions League final.
“I actually thought, talent-wise, he is better than Skipp,” Murphy tells talkSPORT (28 June, 12pm). “He has got more about him.
“He’s obviously lost his way a bit. It’s a fall from grace.”
Skipp, another who rose through the ranks at Spurs, looks likely to stay and fight for his place under Postecoglou. It remains to be seen, however, if the industrious Skipp possesses the passing range required for the ‘number six’ role or the guile to thrive as a ‘number eight’.
Winks out, James Maddison in
While Winks heads to Leicester, Tottenham are set to bring James Maddison in the other direction. Fabrizio Romano reports that a £40 million deal is on the verge of being completed.
“I think it’s a great signing!,” ex-Spurs playmaker Jamie O’Hara tells talkSPORT (28 June, 9.40am).
“If it’s getting done for £40 million, I think that’s brilliant. He is a player that we need. A creative midfielder, a top, top player. He’s going to add strength to the squad and it improves the team.
“I’m excited to see what he can do. We need a number ten, and he is the perfect fit for the club. I think it’s a bit of a bargain getting him for that price, when you look at the players going for £105 million.
“He’s been playing in the Premier League week-in, week-out. I’m happy.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
