All of the Tottenham first-team contingent, apart from a select talented few, are auditioning for their futures at the club this pre-season, as Jose Mourinho looks to mould his squad ahead of 2020-21.
New players will arrive, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s signing set to add a leader to the Spurs ranks and provide another option for the Lilywhites in midfield.
While the Dane’s capture from Southampton has led to speculation over Tanguy Ndombele’s future at Tottenham, I can’t help but feel concerned for Harry Winks.
When Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, many fans and pundits alike suggested that the diminutive central midfielder could have a job on his hands convincing the Portuguese manager that his future lied in North London.
The Tottenham boss prefers physically commanding players in the heart of his teams and Winks’ range of passing and energy seemingly does not fit in with that mantra.
The signing of Hojbjerg follows this rhetoric, with an enforcer-type midfield anchor potentially replacing a ball-playing alternative.
Winks is a player that the Tottenham fans can relate to; a youth-team product that cares for the club and wears his heart on his sleeve.
Add to this the fact his technical abilities make him an international-calibre central midfielder and Spurs have a great, improving player on their hands.
While I welcome Hojbjerg’s arrival at Tottenham, I’m really hoping that Winks still has a future at the club and won’t be pushed out by Mourinho for a more-robust alternative.