Spurs must have rue selling £10M ace who Neville now thinks is capable of benching anyone
Tottenham Hotspur have experienced a rollercoaster season under Ange Postecoglou, showcasing moments of brilliance mixed with unexpected setbacks.
While the team has delivered some exhilarating performances, inconsistency has been a recurring theme. This unpredictability stems from various factors, including squad changes and the departure of key players.
Among the decisions made last summer, one sale in particular may leave Postecoglou pondering the possibility of a missed opportunity.
During the 2023 summer transfer window, Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy oversaw several significant departures. The most high-profile was Harry Kane, who finally left for Bayern Munich in a deal worth £86.4 million.
Kane, a Tottenham legend with 280 goals and 61 assists in 435 appearances, departed as the club’s all-time top scorer. Since moving to Germany, he has maintained his prolific form, with 61 goals and 21 assists in 61 games.
However, his first season in Bavaria ended without a trophy as Bayer Leverkusen claimed the Bundesliga title, denying Bayern their usual dominance.
Lucas Moura, another notable departure, returned to his boyhood club São Paulo on a free transfer. The Brazilian, who famously delivered an unforgettable performance in Amsterdam during Tottenham’s Champions League semi-final run, left after contributing 39 goals and 27 assists in 221 matches.
Moura has flourished in Brazil, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists in 43 games this season, earning a recall to the national team for World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
Yet, of all the exits, one that might weigh on Postecoglou’s mind is the sale of Harry Winks to Leicester City for £10 million. The decision seemed logical at the time, given Winks’ inconsistent form and Tottenham’s need to reshape the squad.
However, the midfielder has since revitalized his career, proving instrumental in Leicester’s immediate promotion back to the Premier League and continuing to impress this season.
His performances have sparked discussions about a possible return to North London and even a recall to the England national team, as suggested by Gary Neville.
Winks’ resurgence has been marked by consistent contributions from midfield, with three assists and one goal in 11 appearances this season. His underlying statistics further highlight his impact, particularly in comparison to Tottenham’s current midfield options.
| Metric (Per 90) | Winks | Bentancur | Bissouma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Penalty xG + Assists | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.10 |
| Actual Non-Penalty G + Assists | 0.38 | 0.25 | 0.40 |
| Assists | 0.29 | 0.13 | 0.00 |
| Shots on Target | 0.29 | 0.25 | 0.40 |
| Passing Accuracy | 86.5% | 91.0% | 91.4% |
| Key Passes | 1.37 | 0.34 | 0.68 |
| Crosses into the Penalty Area | 0.21 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shot-Creating Actions | 2.74 | 2.52 | 1.80 |
| Goal-Creating Actions | 0.32 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Tackles Won | 0.67 | 1.77 | 1.80 |
| Blocks | 1.05 | 0.85 | 0.91 |
| Dispossessed | 0.32 | 0.68 | 0.91 |
| Fouls | 0.57 | 1.77 | 1.20 |
| Ball Recoveries | 5.79 | 7.12 | 3.64 |
(Data via FBref for the 2024/25 EPL and EFL Cup season)
Winks outperforms Bissouma and Bentancur in key areas such as assists, key passes, crosses into the penalty area, and shot-creating actions. These metrics underline his ability to influence games from deep midfield, a role Tottenham has struggled to consistently fill this season.
While Bentancur and Bissouma excel in defensive contributions like tackles won and ball recoveries, Winks offers a balanced skill set that combines creativity with defensive reliability.
As Postecoglou continues to shape his squad, the decision to part ways with Winks may seem increasingly questionable. The midfielder has demonstrated that he belongs in the Premier League, and his form has fueled speculation about a potential return to Spurs in 2025. His performances align with the qualities Postecoglou values in a dynamic, forward-thinking side.
Ultimately, Winks’ career revival serves as a reminder of the challenges in managing transitions during squad overhauls. While Tottenham have seen promising developments under Postecoglou, the sale of Winks could represent a missed opportunity to retain a player capable of making meaningful contributions.
As the season progresses, the spotlight will remain on both Tottenham’s midfield and Winks’ continued evolution at Leicester, with fans and pundits alike debating whether the midfielder could have been an asset to the North London club this year.
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