Tottenham should consider selling Eric Dier to Manchester United

By Rucker Haringey | Jun 17, 2017

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 14: Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur attempts to get past Daley Blind of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at White Hart Lane on May 14, 2017 in London, England. Tottenham Hotspur are playing their last ever home match at White Hart Lane after their 112 year stay at the stadium. Spurs will play at Wembley Stadium next season with a move to a newly built stadium for the 2018-19 campaign. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /

Manchester United desperately want to sign the Spurs midfielder

There are several members of the Tottenham squad who should be retained at all costs this summer. Eric Dier is not one of those Spurs stars. He is just the sort of player that Daniel Levy should consider selling at the right price.

The reported £50 million price tag that Levy had quoted Manchester United seems like the appropriate figure. If Jose Mourinho really wants to steal the youngster away from White Hart Lane, Spurs officials must force United to pay through the nose.

For the record, I think Dier is a good player and would be perfectly content to see him remain with Tottenham for years to come. This article shouldn’t be interpreted as some sort of hate piece. I’m simply making the argument that players of Dier’s ability level have their price.

It’s entirely possible that the English international will find himself outside of Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI next season. Dier’s versatility may be both his greatest attribute and his greatest weakness. Last season he served as a jack of all trades for his Argentine manager. Unfortunately, he was the master of none.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

Injuries forced Dier to spend most of the season playing along the Spurs back line. He settled into a reasonably nice rhythm playing alongside Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld once Pochettino settled into a back three. It’s widely believed that Dier would prefer to operate further up the pitch.

He enjoyed a very successful 2015-16 campaign for Spurs playing as a defensive midfielder. That position is starting to get a bit crowded for Pochettino. Victor Wanyama Mousa Dembele and Harry Winks all made their case for significant playing time in the midfield last year. Dier can certainly be involved in that rotation, but he’s unlikely to wrestle a starting spot away from the incumbents.

As a result, we have to view Dier for what he really is. At the moment, he serves Tottenham as a highly qualified backup at several positions. Ironically, he serves the same purpose for Spurs that Daley Blind does for Manchester United. It’s a curious observation considering Mourinho’s disdain for handing Blind a spot in his own starting XI.

Given Tottenham’s current position as a club, backup players cannot be considered untouchable. In other words, Dier must have his price. If Levy can force a club like United to pay £50 million for his services then a deal must be strongly considered.

After all, that sum of money could purchase Tottenham a starter at another position. I suspect most Spurs fans would happily trade Dier for Thomas Lemar at the moment. Levy could execute that deal and still have tens of millions of pounds to spare.

Next: Tottenham want to replicate Son transfer

Eric Dier is a quality player who certainly has a place at Spurs. He just isn’t an elite talent. That means that astronomical bids for the English international should be considered if they roll in.

Home/Tottenham Hotspur