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Rob Guest & Emma de Duve

Antonio Conte handed transfer boost with Harry Winks Tottenham exit close amid loan move talks

Harry Winks is one player who has been linked with a move away from Tottenham all summer and football.london understands the 26-year-old is moving closer to joining Italian side Sampdoria on loan, ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline. Falling out of favour at Tottenham, the midfielder is not part of Antonio Conte's plans going forward and has played no part for the team since returning for pre-season training in the summer.

Sergio Reguilon, Tanguy Nodmbele and Giovani Lo Celso were part of the quartet with Winks, who have been training away from the Spurs squad and are not in Antonio Conte's plans for the season. The latter duo have already secured their loan moves, with Reguilon gaining interest from a number of clubs.

Previously linked with a move to Everton, 26-year-old Winks now looks set for a switch to Serie A, with both clubs in talks over a deal. While nothing is agreed between the two sides as of yet, there is an expectation that a deal will come to fruition.

READ MORE: Harry Winks opens up on his Tottenham future, his low confidence and when he will speak to Nuno

Winks has made over 200 appearances for the club, but featured just 19 times in the Premier League last season and started in just nine of those matches. The Englishman opened up last October and spoke about the struggles of not getting game time.

"Listen, I love Tottenham, I’ve always made that clear, but I want to play football. And I want to play regular football," he admitted.

"The only way to play your best football, get momentum is when you’re playing regularly. Listen, I’m giving my all for the club, of course I am. They stuck by me, I stuck by them – and I want to play for Tottenham.

"But it is difficult when you get matches here and there, confidence is low and you don’t get that run of games. It is difficult."

Things haven't got any easier for the midfielder and Conte now has a strong quartet of Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Rodrigo Bentancur, Oliver Skipp and Yves Bissouma to choose from. The Italian was asked on the latest on those players who have been tipped to leave the club, when he spoke to the media on Friday.

"For sure if there are players that go out, then we need players to come in. The club know very well the importance for me to have a squad with a couple of players in every role," said Conte.

"For sure we want to make happy every single player but at the same time we have to make the right evaluation for our club, for our team so we'll see what happens." This was followed up by Conte being asked if there had been bids for either Winks or Reguilon.

"There are players that are in the plan and other players we want to try to give them the possibility to play more regularly and to take more time to play. I repeat, we are trying to find the best solution for both the club and the team, but also for the players," Conte added.

Winks' next destination now looks to have been decided and Sampdoria currently sit 16th in the Italian top division, after drawing and losing their first two games. In the last few days, there have been claims that the midfielder wanted to take some time to think about his next destination, but his decision seems to have now been made.

Winks' move has been on the radar all summer, for the sake of his own career, so may not be a player Conte feels he needs to replace. However, it is a boost for the Italian to ensure all of his squad are players he sees in his plans for the season.

READ NEXT:

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