Tottenham: ‘Mouth-watering’ chances emerge for Eric Dier to leave in January transfer window
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Eric Dier’s Tottenham future will depend on whether Ange Postecoglou is backed in the January transfer window, according to Paul Robinson.
After 362 Spurs appearances the 29-year-old’s time at the club appears to be coming to an end sooner or later with his contract expiring in the summer, and he has been linked with a move to the likes of Bayern Munich [Bild, 17 October] and Roma [Corriere dello Sport, 17 November].
Robinson doesn’t feel that the fee he’d command in January would outweigh the benefit of keeping Dier in the squad for the second half of the season, especially in light of injuries and suspensions now bringing into the team, so a free transfer departure is most likely.
The ex-England keeper exclusively told Tottenham News: “I think the backing the manager gets will probably play a part in that. As much as a player’s in control in the last 12 months of his contract, if the club are not willing to sell or to do business then the pros and cons of him leaving in January the manager will weigh up.
“If they’re able to bring somebody else in, you question the fee the club would get. You weigh up the two options, the fee you’re going to get and what the player’s worth to you between now and the end of the season.
“You would have to pay to replace him. If Eric Dier wants to leave in January the fee that they would get for him would be minimal compared to what you’d get for a player with three years left on his contract, and is that fee worth depleting your squad of, ok he’s not played a lot of football, but he’s a key member of the squad?
“Is that fee big enough and are you able to bring somebody else in? I’ve got no inside track on this. I think the club will probably be quite happy for him to see out his contract and be part of the squad until the end of the season.
“He can sign a pre-contract in January and you look at the teams he’s been linked with, the likes of Bayern Munich with Harry Kane there, and other European giants for him, there’s some really mouth-watering opportunities out there for him.
“For him to leave on a free I wouldn’t see that being an issue for the player.”
With Micky van de Ven ruled out into the New Year, Postecoglou may want January reinforcements in defence whatever happens, but Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie’s suspensions have shown why Tottenham need options in the squad.
It would be a surprise for Spurs to spend heavily on more than one defender midseason so it makes little sense to sanction Dier’s exit early and risk being left short.
And with the England international in line to benefit from a bigger signing bonus if he leaves for free after a round decade with the club all signs point towards his time in North London ending at the conclusion of the campaign.
In other Tottenham news, Robinson wants Spurs to seize an opportunity to snap up a “quality” outcast in January.