Tottenham cannot afford to rely on Harry Winks as a starting midfielder

When he’s fit and firing, Harry Winks is the perfect solution for Tottenham’s midfield troubles. Unfortunately, he’s far too injury prone for Spurs.

Tottenham fans love to see Harry Winks in their starting XI because he gives their side some much-needed creativity in the midfield. Unfortunately, it’s become obvious that Spurs cannot afford to rely on Winks as a regular starter heading into next season.

The club would love to trot Winks out as a starter against Ajax on Tuesday, but thenews that he’s recently undergone surgery to repair a groin issue means the young Englishman is done for the season. His absence will leave manager Mauricio Pochettino dangerously short of midfield options for the remainder of the current campaign. That could cost Spurs dearly in their quest to achieve Champions League glory.

The unfortunate truth is that no one at Tottenham should be that surprised at Winks’ injury. He’s struggled mightily to stay on the pitch for Spurs over the last two seasons. The 23-year-old midfielder was limited to 16 Premier League appearances last season due to injury and this year’s total won’t be much better. Winks will finish the 2018/19 season with 26 league appearances to his credit.

His inability to stay healthy has significant ramifications for the club moving forward. In a perfect world, Spurs could slot Winks in as a consistent starter when Pochettino needs a midfielder who can really keep the ball ticking. His inability to stay healthy means that Spurs must make other arrangements.

None of this means Tottenham should sell Winks off this summer. Instead, they must start to view him as something of a luxury player. When he’s fit, it’s fine for Pochettino to throw him into match-ups where he can excel. The club cannot afford to rely on him to stay fit for any significant stretch of time though.

Instead, Tottenham must invest heavily in a midfield partner for Moussa Sissoko this summer. The ideal purchase for Pochettino would be a two-way player who is equally adept at shielding the back four and running forward to contribute to the club’s attack. Finding that sort of player in Spurs’ price range won’t be easy, but it’s something the club must do this summer to advance Pochettino’s project forward.

It’s much too early to give up on Winks entirely, but it’s equally as foolish to expect him to stay healthy for a full season. His penchant for injury means Spurs must spend serious funds on a more reliable midfielder this summer.