Italian club AS Roma, managed by former Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho, are reportedly in talks to sign Spurs defender Eric Dier this summer. This news comes from the Italian outlet Romagiallorossa.it, who have provided a rundown of Roma’s potential transfer targets.
Tottenham are yet to start planning for the upcoming transfer window as they are currently without a permanent manager, and sporting director Fabio Paratici has stepped away from the club due to a FIFA ban for alleged financial offences. This puts Spurs in a weaker position than many of their rivals, who are already making moves to strengthen their squads for next season.
With defence likely to be a key focus for Tottenham in the summer transfer window, Dier’s future at the club could be in doubt. The Spurs squad is currently set up for a back-three formation with two advanced wing-backs, but if a new manager comes in with a preference for a back-four, many players could find themselves at risk.
Dier, who is predominantly used as the central pivot in the heart of defence, maybe one of those players. If this is the case, Mourinho may see an opportunity to bring the 29-year-old to Roma from Tottenham. Dier’s contract runs out in the summer of 2024, and Spurs may have to sell him to avoid losing him for free.
According to Romagiallorossa.it, “Roma are also working on another coup, this time in defence. Regardless of Smalling’s stay at Roma, Pinto has initiated contacts for Eric Dier, 29-year-old central defender of Tottenham, whose contract expires in June 2024.”
The report also suggests that there are good relations between both clubs, with predecease leading to Spurs signing Erik Lamela from Roma in 2013 and selling Federico Fazio to the Italian side, may help negotiations.
Dier played under Mourinho 57 times during the Portuguese manager’s tenure at Tottenham and was a regular starter for much of that time. He was praised for his passing skills in Tottenham’s recent game against Everton, a skill that would be highly valued in Italy. Having said that, Dier’s form has dipped since breaking into the England squad for the Qatar World Cup, and yet he was trusted in last month’s England squad by Gareth Southgate.
Levy & Spurs have a tough decision to make come summer, whether to let go of one of the important voice in the dressing room.
The outcome of this decision may yet depend on who Spurs appoint as their next manager to succeed Antonio Conte.
