Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Harry Winks is ready to reject offers from abroad in favour of remaining in the Premier League this season, despite the club looking to get him off their books by the end of the month.
The 26-year-old has become surplus to requirements in north London after falling out of favour under Spurs boss Antonio Conte, who has decided to bring in new additions to his squad rather than turn to the club’s youth graduate.
Winks certainly isn’t short on offers, with two clubs from Serie A reportedly after his services, but he is prepared to hold out for another Premier League side to come calling after turning his nose up at a move abroad.
It has been reported by La Repubblica, via Football Italia, that Roma have been offered the chance to sign Winks this summer and now the Italian outfit are said to be considering the offer, which would see the midfielder join Jose Mourinho ’s side on a season-long loan.
Roma are looking for a replacement for summer signing Georginio Wijnaldum, who is out for a lengthy spell after suffering a fractured tibia in training, although Mourinho didn't warm to Winks during his 18 months in north London and the player also fell out of favour with him.
During Mourinho’s spell with the Lilywhites, Winks started 26 league games in the 2019-20 campaign following the 59-year-old's appointment, but then just nine times the following season, which ultimately saw his international career with England take a hit too.
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However, the Daily Mail have also reported that fellow Serie A side Sampdoria are also keen to take Winks on loan for the season in the final week of the summer transfer window, although the 26-year-old is said to be unsure about moving to Italy and would prefer to remain in England.
Winks quickly fell out of favour under Conte last season, making just 19 Premier League appearances, which wasn’t helped by the arrival of Rodrigo Bentancur in the January transfer window. Yves Bissouma’s arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion this summer has now all but ended Winks' chances at Spurs.
Winks was left out of the pre-season tour of South Korea back in July as Conte looked to push him out of the door quicker, while he has already been omitted from all three matchday squads so far this season after falling way down the pecking order in central midfield.
It is a sad end to the academy graduate’s time in north London, having made a total of 203 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club and having been with Spurs since the age of five.
Winks would prefer to stay in the Premier League. Crystal Palace were linked with a move for the 26-year-old earlier on in the transfer window, while Everton and Leicester City were also rumoured to have an interest, but it is Nottingham Forest and Southampton who could potentially make a move for him in the final week of the window.
It can be assumed that Winks wants to show that he can still cut it in the Premier League, while he will be hoping that guaranteed first team football may give him the smallest of chances of making it into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad later this year.
