Rangers have been given the green light to sign a midfielder from the Premier League as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks to bolster his squad at Ibrox.
What’s the word?
That is according to a recent transfer report from 90min.
The outlet claimed that Harry Winks has been offered to Rangers and also to various clubs in England's top flight, with Tottenham Hotspur looking to move him on this summer.
With Spurs looking at a fee of around £20m, it could be well out of reach for the Ibrox club, but maybe a deal could be done in terms of a loan move. Either way, it would represent a stunning transfer for Giovanni van Bronckhorst if he can make a successful move for the midfielder.
He could be Rangers' own Jorginho
Winks is a product of Tottenham's academy and began to make a name for himself under Mauricio Pochettino, starting in the 2019 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool.
However, the 26-year-old has struggled to make an impression under Antonio Conte, receiving just 30 appearances in all competitions last season.
Winks could light up the Scottish top flight, though, and he is comparable with Chelsea star Jorginho according to the FBRef similar player model.
Both have excellent passing ability, with Winks completing 86.6% of his passes over the past 12 months and the Italy midfielder succeeding with 89.7% of his. Meanwhile, the Englishman also played 0.6 key passes per match, just behind the Italian’s 0.9 per game.
Both players offer a threat going forward, despite often playing in deeper positions, with both averaging over two shot-creating actions per match (Winks 2.27, Jorginho 2.38).
Defensively, the Chelsea player comprehensively leads the way for tackles won (45 to seven) and pressures (488 to 145), but he played 10 more league matches than Winks last term.
These figures show how comparable the two are and suggest that they play the game in a similar mould, protecting the defence whilst also being able to support the attack when necessary.
The Spurs midfielder was described as “perfect” by his former manager Pochettino, and despite struggling for game-time under Conte, his talents are evident from the figures above, especially when given an extended run in the team.
Winks could be a revelation in Scotland if he is given an opportunity by Van Bronckhorst and remains injury-free, although the fee might be the dealbreaker in this potential move.