Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks could return from his temporary spell at Sampdoria prematurely.
What’s the latest?
In a recent article for football.london, Alasdair Gold revealed that the midfielder, who is yet to feature for the Serie A side as a result of an ankle injury, could be set for a return to north London in January due to his continued unavailability in Italy.
Regarding the 26-year-old’s current situation, the journalist said: “Winks is yet to make an appearance for Sampdoria as he tries to overcome a troublesome ankle problem. He had only completed one training session with the group before the problem flared up.
“There have been some reports in Italy that the Serie A side could look to end his loan move prematurely in January if he is unable to regain his fitness with the player training alone as he awaits some kind of progress with the injury. He has not featured in any of the club’s 11 games this season so far and is currently listed by the club as simply unavailable.”
Paratici shocker
While it is true that, when Fabio Paratici sanctioned a deal to send Winks to Sampdoria back in August, the sporting director was unable to predict that the former England international would pick up a long-term injury, it is nevertheless undeniable that the midfielder’s temporary switch to the Luigi Ferraris Stadium has proven to be a shocker.
Indeed, with Antonio Conte quite clearly making the £8.7m-rated talent surplus to requirements at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window, many at the club would undoubtedly have been hoping for an interested party to make a permanent offer for the 26-year-old.
However, with Paratici and Daniel Levy placing a £25m asking price on the playmaker’s head, neither of the two clubs reported to be most interested in the Tottenham academy graduate – Newcastle United and Southampton – would go on to submit a concrete bid for the midfielder, leaving Spurs’ only option to send Winks out on loan.
And, while Sampdoria would ultimately go on to secure the Englishman’s services on a temporary basis, due to the financial limitations of the Serie A side, Tottenham are still reported to be paying £30k per week in order for the Italian club to be able to afford the midfielder.
However, with Winks’ injury resulting in him making no appearances for I Blucerchiati so far this season, as well as potentially being returned to Tottenham in January, it is clear for all to see that the midfielder’s move to Italy has proven a shocker for all involved.
Indeed, Winks himself has not had the chance to prove he has what it takes to make it in a top-five European League, meaning Tottenham look incredibly unlikely to get anywhere near their £25m asking price for the midfielder when he eventually returns to north London, while Levy is still paying a considerable portion of the 26-year-old’s wages in the process.
As such, it would be difficult to categorise the Englishman’s move to Italy as anything other than a disaster for Paratici, Levy and Spurs, with all things currently pointing towards a premature return to Tottenham for Winks in January – bringing both the club and the player back to square one.
