Having featured in both matches of Tottenham’s post-season tour, against a Malaysian XI and Sydney FC respectively, Harry Winks will be hoping the 2015-16 campaign offers him a similar route into Mauricio Pochettino’s first team squad.
Having already made his competitive debut for Tottenham, coming off the bench in 1-0 victory over Partizan Belgrade in late November 2014 as Spurs progressed in the Europa League, the England youth international will be looking to get more minutes under his belt.
Potential Loan Move
Reports have linked Winks to a loan move across the border at Scottish giants Rangers. Recently appointed boss Mark Warburton is known to have strong links with Tottenham and Pochettino following the success of Alex Pritchard at Warburton’s previous club Brentford.
In a recent interview with the Scottish Daily Record, Tottenham legend Gary Mabbutt mentioned how beneficial Rangers could be in the development of Winks. With Warburton playing a similar high pressing, attacking style of football Pochettino demands, Mabbutt believes “it would be a fantastic move for Rangers to sign Harry…”
Whether Winks spends the forthcoming season away from White Hart Lane, or on the fringes of the Premier League side, remains to be seen as Pochettino presses ahead with the summer clear out at Tottenham.
First Team Opportunities at Tottenham
Fellow midfielders Paulinho , Lewis Holtby and Étienne Capoue have all left the club in recent weeks. Moves to Guangzhou Evergrande, Hamburg and Watford respectively have paved the way for a number of youngsters to become important squad members as Spurs look to compete on four fronts.
Alongside another England youth international, and highly-rated creative midfielder, Josh Onomah at White Hart Lane, Winks will be looking to make a claim for regular appearances in competitions like the League Cup and Europa League once more.
Pochettino is thought to rate Winks highly and this faith in the young Englishman, who has been a stalwart in the Tottenham under-21 side, and has been rewarded for his progression with a new three year contract
Tottenham look to have tied Winks down to a long term contract as he continues his rapid development in North London. Winks, on the other hand, will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of recent Tottenham academy graduates Harry Kane and Ryan Mason in becoming a vital part in the jigsaw Pochettino is piecing together.