Targeting Promotion – Winks’ Mission
Leicester’s new No.8 joins a squad which must now look to plot a successful campaign in the Sky Bet Championship in order to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
For now, though, it’s all about bedding in at Seagrave, with the 27-year-old already acquainted with some of his new team-mates as they prepare to embark on a busy pre-season schedule.
“I’m delighted,” Winks told us. “I’m really excited for the challenge ahead. It’s an amazing club with great history and the facilities are incredible. I’m just so happy to be here and ready to get going.
“I’m looking forward to getting started, to have a full pre-season with the team and come here early to get ready for the games coming up. It’s going to be an important few weeks to get everyone ready and to push myself getting fit.
“Just from meeting a couple of the players on the pitch and from being around some of them at England at the different age groups, it’s going to be nice to get back with them and easy to come into a new environment. Hopefully I’ll slot in well.
“I’m also looking forward to a new challenge and to challenge myself. Coming to a club like Leicester is the perfect chance to do that. Hopefully we can get back to the Premier League. I’m sure most of the players in the team are feeling the same way.
“It’s a great bunch of players and if everyone works well and works hard, which I’m sure they will do, there’s a good chance we can get there.”
Adapting to the rigours of the Championship – with 46 league games, changing styles of play and different venues – will be a key factor of the campaign, Winks believes, with the playmaker set for a first season at this level.
His last action came in Serie A, on loan at Sampdoria throughout 2022/23, providing a fresh outlook for the man capped 10 times by the national side.
The England midfielder explained: “I’ve played a mixture of games for Tottenham, both against teams lower and teams higher, in the Champions League. They certainly all bring their challenges, but I’m sure this season is going to have a big set of challenges as well.
“It was a great experience in Italy. I learned a lot out there. It was different, not something I’m used to, but I really enjoyed my time out there, the different culture, the different league.
“I’m hoping the experiences I had there, and with Tottenham, can help me when I start to play here as well. As long as we all work hard, including myself, then I’m sure it can be a really exciting season for us all.”
New Foxes Manager Enzo Maresca certainly left an impression on Winks in their first meeting and the former Spurs star cannot wait to begin the journey at Leicester City, starting a new chapter of his career.
He added: “I’m looking forward to working with the Manager here and trying to improve under him to get to another level. I’ve spoken to him and he seems brilliant.
“The last few managers that I’ve played for have all had different styles and different ethics and work and how they want to approach games. It’s all about adapting. It starts by working hard here, performing well and getting back to the Premier League.”