Noel Whelan has claimed that Harry Winks would have been silly to turn down a move to Sampdoria this summer, even if Serie A wasn’t his dream transfer.
The Serie A club’s director Carlo Osti recently confirmed that Winks is set to join them on a season-long loan move (CalcioMercatoWeb).
Antonio Conte had already deemed the midfielder dispensable after the boss left him out of the pre-season tour of South Korea and subsequent first-team training (Evening Standard).
However, Gianluca Di Marzio revealed last week that Winks had asked Spurs and the Italian side to give him some time before pushing for a final decision on a move. It was said that the English midfielder still hoped to receive an offer from a Premier League instead.
Winks was spotted arriving in Italy earlier this evening ahead of sealing his move to Marco Giampaolo’s side. (TuttoMercatoWeb/Twitter).
Whelan expressed his surprise over how the Tottenham outcast endangered his move to Sampdoria without having any backup.
The former Leeds man believes the priority should always be given to regular game time rather than remaining in England if Winks hopes to revive his career.
MORE SPURS STORIES
Whelan told Football Insider: “You’ve got to have some concrete interest if you’re turning your back on a move to Italy. It could have easily been that he stays at Spurs, sitting on the sidelines and letting his career dwindle away if no Premier League side came forward.
“He’s given himself a chance now of playing every week and recapturing his best form. Turning down a move away is something he can’t afford to do – it would have been a huge mistake. At his age, he needs to be playing regularly.
“If that’s abroad, then it’s abroad. It would have been a very silly move to shut the door on a loan to a very good club without having that concrete interest in the Premier League.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
Winks saw his minutes reduce significantly in north London after Rodrigo Bentancur arrived from Juventus last January. This loan move could prove to be in his best interest as he can showcase his qualities to potential suitors by performing in Serie A.
Sampdoria are struggling in the Italian top-flight right now, and they could use someone like Winks in their midfield. He should earn consistent minutes for them if he can get back to his best which he showcased in the early days under Conte.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
