Former Premier League manager Stuart Pearce believes Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is likely to approve Eric Dier’s departure in the January window after reports claimed his replacement has been identified at OGC Nice Todibo.
The versatile England international has been relegated to the lower ranks of the competition following the arrival of the Australian manager and is struggling for playing time this season.
Dier has been linked with a move from Tottenham and it remains to be seen whether a transfer will happen next month.
Tottenham, under the new manager, have used a free-flowing attacking system, with their bundle consisting of a high defensive line. This requires defenders with pace, and Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have proven to be ideal choices in the current system.
As Dier does not have enough space, he would be exposed in Postecoglou’s system, so the England international is no longer a key player for the North London team.
Ideally, the two sides would part ways in January, but Pearce is confident that a January transfer for Tottenham’s utility player is in sight.
“If you’re not playing in the first team at his age, there’s a good chance he’ll leave,” said the English football legend.
“Maybe Ange has decided to move him on. He’s watched him over the last few months and the way Tottenham play with high pressure, which makes them very exposed at the back, Van de Ven has shown he can play in that role because of his pace.
“The players who will actually play there will have to be confident that they can play one-on-one or two-on-two. He will have to be sure that he has two mobile players in the centre of the back line who will be able to handle that full pressure and the exposure that it causes.
“Eric Dier doesn’t owe Tottenham anything, so he might feel that now is the right time to move on.”
Dier has been a useful servant for Spurs over the years but at this stage of his career he needs to play regularly. It is obvious that Spurs will not provide him with the opportunities he needs, so he should look for a club where he will be a key player.
Regular football in the second half of the campaign could help him cement his place in England’s starting line-up ahead of next summer’s European Championships.