Jose Mourinho and Roma can have statuesque Tottenham defender

Tottenham, with Jose Mourinho identifying Eric Dier as an important piece of his Roma rebuild, should sell the statuesque defender if the price is right. 

Dier has endured a miserable spell in north London which has extended over two years. That’s too long to be considered a slump, a mere dip in form. Riddled by injuries and sickness last year, one could excuse his inability to return to the level that adorned him to Tottenham supporters.

But as time elapsed and the same needless, inexplicable errors plagued the Englishman’s lacklustre performances, the hope he’d return to a semblance of his former self quickly faded. Dier, Serge Aurier and Davinson Sanchez have transformed into mistake machines, their uncanny propensity to throw Spurs into a deep hole an issue too damaging and compounding to ignore.

Dier is marked with a £21.5 million price tag, an affordable amount for a Roma side willing to provide Mourinho with enough cash to begin his rebuild. A few things, though, must occur before Tottenham can unload their statuesque centre back.

Dier doesn’t need to be thrilled about the prospective transfer for it to come to fruition. Mourinho has always been a proponent of what Dier offers, sticking with the Englishman long after he probably should have. So you wouldn’t expect Dier to be vehemently against the possible move.

Secondly, Spurs need to find a superior replacement for the outgoing Dier. They cannot afford to sell Dier without having a proficient replacement in place, especially considering the likelihood of Aurier and Sanchez also departing Hotspur Way this summer.

Joe Rodon isn’t quite ready to marshal consistently Spurs backline while Toby Alderweireld will be 33 years old in March. Tottenham’s summer focus and priority is obvious, though finding proficient defenders is way easier said than done.

Juan Foyth also needs to be recalled from Villareal, where the 23-year-old has enjoyed an incredibly fruitful year on loan.

Once those requirements are met, Tottenham will happily sell Dier to Roma, where he will once again become Jose’s issue. But this time Spurs won’t feel any of the pervading ill-effects of the Mourinho-Dier sordid and complicated love affair.