Brentford, Fiorentina and Valencia in three-way transfer race for £90k-a-week Leicester City star | OneFootball

The 29-year-old joined Leicester City in 2023

Valencia are leading the race for Leicester City midfielder Harry Winks.

The 29-year-old moved to the King Power Stadium two years ago and played an instrumental role in their title-winning 2023/24 Championship campaign.

However, it isn’t certain whether he will remain with the Foxes to repeat those heroics this term.

Valencia in pole position to land Harry Winks transfer

Winks started on the bench for Leicester City’s Championship opener against Sheffield Wednesday, which highlights the current uncertainty surrounding his future.

According to Mike McGrath via X, Valencia are currently the team in the most advanced position to strike a deal for the midfielder.

Italian outfit Fiorentina have also been credited with an interest in Winks, who previously spent a season in Serie A with Sampdoria.

Premier League side Brentford are thought to be long-term admirers of the former Tottenham Hotspur player, as they look to address their midfield further after signing Jordan Henderson.

Last season saw Winks’ relationship with the club sour, after falling out with former boss Ruud van Nistelrooy due to reportedly refusing to stay at the training ground one night a week after his partner gave birth.

This led to the 29-year-old being dropped from the first team by Van Nistelrooy, with his last appearance coming in March.

With just a year left on his deal at the King Power Stadium, which currently sees him earn an estimated weekly wage of £90,000, the Foxes may find it hard to turn down any approach for Winks in the coming weeks.

Harry Winks would be a huge miss for Leicester City this season

Given the 29-year-old’s precarious contract situation and sell-on value, it makes sense from a business point of view to cash in on Winks.

However, on the pitch, it is a different story.

New Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes has previously looked to operate with a system that dominates possession, in a similar style to Enzo Maresca during the 2023/24 campaign.

Winks previously revelled in such a midfield role, with his passing skills and ability to control a game’s tempo among his strongest attributes.

Besides a season-long loan spell at Sampdoria, the 29-year-old spent eight years at Tottenham Hotspur, making over 200 appearances for the North London club.

Most sides in the Championship don’t possess a player who has started in a Champions League final, which highlights how big of a blow Winks’ exit would be.

It would be almost impossible to recruit a profile with similar experience and ability during the final stages of the summer window, which would further compound the Foxes’ woes.