The January transfer window is now open, and it allows Tottenham Hotspur to offload players who don’t have a future under manager Antonio Conte. However, one player that might not be departing is Harry Winks.
Before the arrival of the Italian tactician, Winks might have been a candidate to leave this January. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old is in good form under Conte, which is why former English footballer Noel Whelan says Winks is vital to the Tottenham boss.
“It doesn’t surprise me because he’s a very good player and England international,” Whelan said to Football Insider. “I think managers have come and gone at Tottenham, and that’s messed with the consistency of the whole squad. Also, there was the speculation about Harry Kane in the summer, and that just took over everything and was the main priority at Spurs.
“But when a new manager comes in as Conte has, everyone is playing off a clean slate. He’s a very solid player. Keeps the ball, possession-based, good reading of the game, starts moves off. You can’t really afford to let too many players go when you’ve only just come through the door. When you’re looking at how Conte plays, with the wing-back system – players like Winks and Oliver Skipp become vitally important to their side.”
Under Conte, it seems as though Winks is helping the squad generate scoring chances, providing four key passes in his last three fixtures for Tottenham. Furthermore, the midfielder has helped create nine shot-creating actions in his previous three Premier League appearances.
If Winks continues with this form, perhaps he can indeed leave up to the potential many saw in him. Also, the Tottenham man can play his way into the England national team with the FIFA World Cup occurring later in the year.