Tottenham outcast Harry Winks could be set to return to the club after struggling on loan with Sampdoria.
Winks chose a fresh start by joining the Serie A club on a season-long loan this summer, but things have gone from bad to worse for the midfielder.
Last season, the 26-year-old fell out of favour with Antonio Conte, who gave him only a cameo role in the closing stages of the season. And with the arrivals of the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma, he was considered a surplus to the Italian’s requirements.
Sampdoria manager Marco Giampaolo was eager to sign the Spurs star, and the club worked hard to reach an agreement with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. But Winks’ spell at the Italian club could be cut short before it even begins.
According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, he is still suffering from an ankle injury that has plagued him since joining the club in August, and the club is looking to return him to his parent club.
The report suggests that Sampdoria retains the right to terminate Winks’ loan agreement in January, and he faces being returned to Spurs because the club is unwilling to absorb his wages without seeing him play.
He arrived at the Sampdoria as a marquee signing for the Serie A club, and he was paraded in front of the fans after a warm welcome from his club. However, the midfielder has yet to make his club debut and has been barely seen training with his teammates.