Antonio Conte left out Harry Winks from Tottenham Hotspur’s matchday squad on Saturday, with the midfielder on the transfer list of Leeds United and other Premier League clubs.
Tottenham thrashed Southampton 4-1 on Saturday on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg starting in the middle of the park and summer signing Yves Bissouma coming on from the bench.
It’s perhaps a clear sign from Conte that Winks, who was once compared to Steven Gerrard by Moussa Sissoko, is no longer part of his long-term plans.
WHO WILL WINKS SIGN FOR?
Leeds expressed interest in Winks when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge and that has now continued with Jesse Marsch in the Elland Road dugout, but they aren’t the only team keen on the midfielder.
Southampton, Everton and Leeds themselves have expressed interest in the player, with the 2022 summer transfer window set to slam shut in less than a month.
It’s pretty clear that Winks should leave because he’s not going to earn regular game time in north London, especially with Bissouma’s arrival and Conte only playing a two-man midfield.
All the clubs mentioned are in need of added quality and they would be able to provide Winks with regular competitive minutes.
But who needs him more? Well, probably not Everton because they have just added Amadou Onana to their books and Idrissa Gana Gueye is seemingly set to make a comeback to Goodison Park.
Leeds need more depth in the middle of the park and Winks would provide simplicity to proceedings for Marsch, whilst Southampton are another team in short of numbers and experience.
Whatever happens, Winks will be one of the names making a move this summer, it’s just a case of which road he will go down.
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