Lawal Israel
Harry Winks’ asking price has reportedly been reduced to £15 million, with the Spurs midfielder eager to gain regular game time.
According to the Sunday People, Newcastle, as well as Premier League rivals Southampton, are interested in the 26-year-old, whose transfer fee tag had initially been set at £25 million.
Since Antonio Conte took over as manager, the 10-cap Englishman has started just nine league games.
It’s the second season in a row that Winks has made 30 appearances for Spurs while starting just nine Premier League games, indicating that his position in north London isn’t likely to improve.
Winks’ initial asking price of £25 million sounded high, but after being slashed by almost half, the midfielder’s current asking price seems reasonable.
Winks has outstanding experience for a player who might potentially join a club that ended in the bottom half of the Premier League table this season, with senior international experience and 203 appearances for his boyhood club, 128 of which have come in the Premier League.
Given the constant ties with blockbuster stars ahead of PIF’s first summer transfer season at the helm of the North-East outfit, Newcastle supporters may be unimpressed by the likelihood of signing Winks.
Eddie Howe, on the other hand, is in desperate need of quality midfield depth, with the likes of Sean Longstaff, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey, and Joe Willock all facing criticism that they aren’t up to the standard Howe wants in his team.
Bruno Guimares has been a revelation since joining from Lyon in January, and while Winks does not have the same pedigree, the two could form a fascinating combo.
