Former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson has claimed that Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks could be forced out of the north London club in the summer.
The Lowdown: Winks’ lack of minutes
The 26-year-old has struggled for minutes in the Premier League under Antonio Conte following the deadline day arrival of Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus.
Whilst the homegrown midfielder maintained a string of games in the starting XI during the middle of the season, the Italian has reverted to using Winks as a substitute. As a result, the former England international has totalled just 17 minutes in the Lilywhites’ last six league matches.
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The Latest: Robinson’s claim on Winks…
Robinson, who regularly features as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that Winks could see himself being forced out of Hotspur Way in the summer.
Speaking with Football Insider, he claimed: “Hojbjerg and Bentancur are the preferred partnership.
“You always worry about players adapting when they come to the Premier League but Bentancur has settled in brilliantly. He’s been an excellent signing. He demands a starting spot every week. It is him plus one and at the moment it is Hojbjerg.
“Winks has found it hard to get into the team. It looks like the time has come for him to move on. He needs to be playing every week given the stage he is at in his career. He needs a manager who will show him a bit of love and play him every week.
“Hojbjerg and Bentancur are the first choice right now. Hojbjerg has not been consistent this season but he is playing really well at the moment. Bentancur is the one setting the bar.”
The Verdict: Winks should move elsewhere
Hojbjerg and Bentancur have truly stapled themselves as the default options in Conte’s midfield, and with youngster Oliver Skipp now close to making his return to action, Winks could see himself fall even lower down the pecking order at Spurs.
This will come as a disappointment to Tottenham fans who were once excited at the youngster’s potential, given Mauricio Pochettino’s “amazing” appraisal of the player earlier in his career.
However, in the current circumstances, it seems that Winks’ time in north London could be coming to an end, so as Robinson has claimed, an early move in the summer could appear to be the best option for all parties involved.
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