Craig Scott

Fri 3 September 2021 17:10, UK

David Norris is staggered by Phil Hay’s claim that Leeds United refused the chance to sign Harry Winks from Tottenham in the summer transfer window.

Writing on The Athletic website last week, Hay reported that Spurs offered Winks, 25, to them on loan for the season.

However, Leeds failed to follow that up with an offer of their own and Marcelo Bielsa did not manage to sign himself a new central midfielder before the transfer window closed.

Ex-Leeds player Norris cannot believe that his former club rejected the chance to sign Winks.

“I’m very surprised they didn’t take that opportunity. I thought that would be a no-brainer,” Norris told Football Transfer Tavern.

“He’s played in a top-six side, done well and proved he can handle himself at that level.

“I am surprised they didn’t look to pursue that deal.”

Picky Marcelo

Bielsa doesn’t just sign players based on their reputation and what club they’re coming from. He does his research to the nth degree and Winks would not have been passed up easily.

Winks is someone who’s played at a top Premier League club, played in a Champions League final, played for England and done really well at this level for a few years.

However, if he doesn’t fit the system or if there’s just one minor detail Bielsa isn’t happy with, he won’t sanction a deal. And that’s perfectly acceptable.

Leeds should have signed a new central midfielder in the summer with pursuits of Conor Gallagher and Lewis O’Brien both reaching dead-ends.

Their interest of those two players shows what kind of midfielder Bielsa wanted. He didn’t want a playmaker-sort like Winks, he didn’t want someone who’ll sit deep and control possession.

He wanted a wildcard, an aggressor, an endless supply of energy who runs and runs and badgers opponents into mistakes and tires them out.

Winks isn’t that kind of player. He’s a good player. But he’s not a Bielsa player.

In other Leeds United news, Trevor Sinclair expects this player to quit Elland Road next year.