Bayern Munich Monitoring Tottenham’s Eric Dier
Throughout England’s European Championship campaign, Tottenham’s Eric Dier has been one of the Three Lions’ best players this summer, and Bayern Munich have taken notice.
It’s not just Eric Dier’s performances from this summer’s Euros that have caught Carlo Ancelotti’s eyes. Most likely, it’s the film that the Italian manager has seen of the England international from last season when he became Mauricio Pochettino’s new defensive midfielder after starting his first year with Tottenham as a center-back.
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Although the Mirror is reporting that Bayern Munich have been monitoring Dier for the last few days by apparently making background checks and talking to several of their contacts in the Premier League, the 22-year-old won’t move.
Whenever one of Tottenham’s star players are being linked with big clubs throughout Europe, there’s a cause for concern because it brings up bad memories of when Spurs would sell key members back in the day.
But that was then, and this is now, and for Tottenham they’re intent on keeping their star players no matter how much a club is offering.
Besides, with Dier already signing a five-year contract extension last season, he’s going to remain with the Lilywhites until 2020.
Seeing Eric Dier’s performances last season in which he made 51 appearances in all competitions, it’s not surprising that teams are interested in the England international who can pass, tackle and stop the opposing team from going on a counter with key interceptions..
After being the shield of Tottenham’s backline and succeeding despite not playing the position that much growing up in Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy and playing in their first team, it’s little wonder why Ancelotti is keeping tabs on Dier.
To go along with being a revelation in a new role, Eric Dier’s smarts as a center-back, has helped make the transition to a holding mid even easier when Spurs’ full-backs push high up the pitch.
As this allows Mauricio Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 formation to be very flexible and transform into a 3-1-4-2 on the fly during a quick counterattack.
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For clubs to have a player of Dier’s stature in which he knows when to drop back into the backline and when to push up into the midfield once again, that is very valuable to managers who can then tinker with their starting lineups in other areas.
One such example was what Pochettino did against Watford in their first meeting on December 28th. With the Hornets boasting two in-form strikers in Troy Deeney and Odio Ighalo, the Argentine manager had a backline consisting of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier (who has played right-back as well).
Going with a 3-1-4-2 formation, the lone defensive midfielder was Mousa Dembélé as his role against Liverpool in which Dier served a one-game suspension gave Pochettino confidence to go with the Belgian international once again.
Having Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier playing higher up as wing-backs to go along with a midfield pairing of Tom Carroll and Dele Alli meant that Spurs’ two forwards would be Harry Kane and Érik Lamela.
Tottenham would win the game in the 89th minute following a Son Heung-Min back heel flick after coming in as a sub, but, the main story is what Dier’s versatility meant for Mauricio Pochettino during that game.
He can be lined up in defensive midfield, center-back or right-back. And Carlo Ancelotti no doubt sees him as player to help bolster his squad for next season. It’s a shame it will amount to nothing.
Because for the Bavarian giants to even consider a move for the 22-year-old midfielder, Tottenham — if they had any desire to sell Eric Dier, which they won’t — Spurs would obviously demand a king’s ransom in return.
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Money will always be on the table but there are a couple of names that Mauricio Pochettino could float around to receive in return.
Thomas Müller would be one. Kingsley Coman is another. Perhaps even Mats Hummels and David Alaba. But again, this is something that is unlikely to happen for both parties as Bayern would lose a lot in return for one player.
Chalk this up as another transfer rumor that won’t go anywhere involving a Tottenham player leaving the club after having a successful season this past term.