Ange Postecoglou has given the green light for Eric Dier’s departure in January, with the experienced Tottenham player now weighing options from two potential new clubs in the upcoming transfer window. Additionally, Tottenham is set to welcome a new player to fill the void left by Dier’s anticipated exit.
Dier, who arrived at the club in a £4 million deal from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2014, has been a mainstay for Spurs, featuring in 363 games over the span of nine and a half seasons. However, his role has diminished under Postecoglou, resulting in just two appearances this season, with limited playing time amounting to 146 minutes.
With his contract set to expire in the summer, Dier is poised to depart Spurs after a lengthy tenure, with the club seeking what could be a nominal fee, believed to be as low as £5 million for the 49-times capped England international.
A potential reunion with former manager Jose Mourinho at Roma has been proposed, with the Italian side not the only contenders vying for Dier’s signature. Fenerbahce has also emerged as a suitor, with reports suggesting that negotiations for a potential transfer are progressing, edging Dier closer to a move to Turkey.
While a move to Turkey may surprise some, Dier is keen to secure regular playing time and has been reportedly impressed by the plans put forth by the interested clubs.
Former England coach Stuart Pearce opined that Postecoglou has signaled Dier’s freedom to depart in January, citing a change in style at Spurs as a contributing factor, with Dier reportedly being overlooked for defensive roles in recent times.
With Dier’s departure set to mark one of Spurs’ initial moves in the January window, attention has now shifted to the pursuit of possible replacements in their defensive lineup. Postecoglou has expressed his desire to recruit a new defender, affirming the availability of funds for squad enhancement in January.
While securing Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba would ideally suit the club, complexities arising from his current team’s Bundesliga title challenge and the associated high transfer fee render a deal in the upcoming month challenging. Jean-Clair Todibo and Sebastian Caceres emerge as alternative prospects, with the latter potentially requiring a fee as low as €7 million to facilitate a transfer from Club America.
Italian reports indicate that Tottenham is at the forefront of the race to secure the services of the 24-year-old, whose existing contract runs until December 2024.
Torino is also expressing interest in the player, particularly as they seek to fill the void left by the injured Perr Schuurs. Nevertheless, it appears that a move to Tottenham ranks as the preferred option for the player.
Consequently, this development could potentially result in a direct swap, with the funds garnered from Eric Dier’s departure being allocated towards acquiring Caceres. The Uruguayan is envisioned to provide cover for Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero throughout the latter half of the season.
