Eric Dier should start against West Ham (Getty Images)
According to Football.London, Tottenham Hotspur are confident of agreeing on a new contract for their midfielder Eric Dier.
The 26-year-old’s current £60,000-a-week contract with Spurs is set to expire at the end of next season. The report also claims that Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is a big fan of the defensive midfielder, who has been linked with a move to Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Dier joined Tottenham back in 2014 from the Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon and has gone on to play 235 matches for Spurs. He has also managed 11 goals and as many assists in the process, signifying his worth within the side.
A regular in his first four seasons with the club, Dier, however, has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham in recent times. He has featured just 14 times for them in the league this season. Most of this has come after Mourinho replaced former boss Mauricio Pochettino in November. Last season, he played just 20 league games, after falling out of favour with Pochettino.
A defensive midfielder by trade, Dier, is also equally comfortable playing as a centre-back – something which he has done on numerous occasions for Spurs. Out of his 235 appearances for the Lilywhites, he has donned the centre-back role 72 times. This speaks volumes about his significance as a utility player in the side.
Blessed with excellent defensive abilities, Dier’s versatility saw him being handed the centre-back role three times by new boss Mourinho in the league this term. Meanwhile, apart from Dier, Spurs just have one more defensive midfielder in their ranks – Oliver Skipp. However, he is just 19 and has a lot more to prove, having made just four league appearances this season.
There also remain concerns regarding the future of veteran Jan Vertonghen. The 33-year-old centre-back is yet to sign a new deal with the club and his current contract is set to expire at the end of this month.
With such a scenario still existing, Tottenham’s decision to tie down Dier to the club with a new deal makes complete sense. Hence, they should push ahead with their efforts to extend Dier’s stay at the club and offer him a new contract.
Vertonghen’s uncertain future is a matter of concern. Thus, keeping hold of utility man Dier seems like a safe bet for them at the moment. A proven customer, there is no questioning Dier’s experience. He could prove to be a valuable asset for the side due to his versatility. Hence, a new deal for the Englishman seems like a wise move by Tottenham.
