Maddison, Winks deal represents a brilliant coup for Tottenham hierarchy

Tottenham’s hierarchy has received a lot of stick for their spat of haphazard decisions over the last five years. Still, Daniel Levy and company deserve heaping praise for the recent James Maddison, Harry Winks transfer. 

Maddison cost the club £40 million with add-ons, a fee reduced by £10 million with Harry Winks going the other way. It represents Tottenham’s best bit of business in recent memory.

The Foxes initially had their Maddison price set at £60 million. There was always an expectation that Leicester would drop that price, potentially to £50 million.

Somehow Tottenham got them down to £40 million. It’s hard to imagine a lack of suitors for Maddison, one of the Premier League’s most impactful midfielders. However, the Foxes were immediately more amenable to a cut-rate after Newcastle dropped out of the running.

Adding Winks to the deal put a giant cherry on top of the already sweet deal.

Winks’ time at Spurs was clearly over even before going on loan to Sampdoria. Transfermarkt, a site that regularly undervalues players’ worth, had Winks’ valuation pegged at just over £8 million.

That proved true once again, with Spurs cashing in on a £10 million fee for the out-of-favour midfielder, who will invariably thrive in the Championship.

That part of the deal is mutually beneficial, as the Foxes badly needed a replacement for the outgoing Maddison. While Winks is far from Maddison’s level, he will be instrumental in the Foxes’ quest to regain Premiership status.

For Tottenham, it amounts to paying only £30 million for a player who will dramatically improve the club’s offensive prowess. Landing Maddison should also help improve Harry Kane’s outlook on the upcoming season, the last of his current contract with Spurs.

Overall, the Maddison, Winks deal is one Tottenham supporters should be proud of and highly excited about. It represents a coup of the grandest order and should propel Tottenham’s chances of returning to Europe after missing out last season.