How much Leicester City would save on wages if Harry Winks is sold, with EFL return looming | OneFootball

Foxes could save big money by offloading midfielder after training ground row and looming relegation

As Leicester City teeter on the brink of relegation from the Premier League, attention is turning to the club’s finances - and in particular, the wage bill.

One of the biggest earners in the squad, Harry Winks, has become the focus of internal tension and external speculation.

With his future uncertain, his potential departure could offer much-needed financial relief for a club preparing for life back in the Championship.

Leicester City could save £4.6 million by selling Harry Winks

Harry Winks signed for Leicester from Tottenham Hotspur in July 2023 for a £10 million fee, arriving as a marquee midfield addition for then-manager Enzo Maresca.

But the move hasn’t gone as planned. Now 29, Winks is earning a reported £90,000 a week - equivalent to £4.68 million per year - per estimates from Capology.

Winks is currently the highest-earning player due to be contracted to the Foxes next season, with Jamie Vardy’s estimated £140,000/week deal expiring in the summer, and Odsonne Edouard’s estimated £90,000/week loan ending at the conclusion of the 24/25 season.

With significantly reduced revenue in the Championship, cutting high earners from the payroll is essential.

Offloading Winks this summer could save Leicester that figure, making his exit as financially impactful as any incoming transfer fee. That is assuming, of course, that any buying club is willing to match a portion of those wages.

His situation has come to a head recently after The Telegraph reported a clash between Winks and manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

According to the report, Winks refused to comply with a demand to stay overnight at the training ground once a week, leading to his banishment from the squad. The fallout has called his long-term role into question, especially as Leicester prepare for significant changes ahead.

Foxes facing relegation with major changes expected this summer

On the pitch, the picture is bleak. Leicester are facing relegation from the Premier League with games remaining to save themselves into single figures now.

The team’s alarming drop-off has left fans and pundits alike resigned to Championship football next season.

Off it, managerial upheaval appears imminent. Ruud van Nistelrooy is not expected to remain at the club should they go down, and early rumours have linked Leicester with Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Röhl.

Recruitment chief Martyn Glover previously worked with Röhl at Southampton, hinting at a possible reunion. A new manager could mean a new direction, and Winks - now out of favour - may not be part of it.

Former Southampton boss Russell Martin has also been linked to a return to the Championship with the Foxes.

Selling Winks would ease financial pressures and signal a clean break. With his wages placing him firmly among the club’s most expensive assets, his departure might be a necessary step as Leicester aim to reset and rebuild.