Former Premier League manager Stuart Pearce believes that Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is likely to sanction the departure of Eric Dier during the January window.
The versatile England international has fallen down the pecking order since the arrival of the Australian manager and he has struggled for game time this season.
Dier has been linked with a move away from Tottenham and it remains to be seen whether a move goes through next month.
Tottenham have employed a free-flowing attacking system under their new manager and they have beam using a high defensive line. That requires defenders with pace and the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have proven to be ideal options in the current system.
Dier’s lack of space would leave him exposed in Postecoglou’s system and therefore the England international is no longer a key player for the north London outfit.
It is ideal for the two parties to go separate ways in January and Pearce believes but a January move is on the cards for the Tottenham utility man.
Speaking to Express Sport, he said: “If you’re not a first-team starter at his age, there’s every chance [he could leave],” the English football legend said.
“It might well have made Ange’s mind up that he’s going to move him on. He’s had a look at him over the last few months, and the way Tottenham play with a high-court press, which leaves them very exposed at the back, Van de Ven showed that he can play in that role because of his pace.
“The players that do actually play there will have to be confident of playing one-on-one or two-on-two. He’s got to be confident that he’s got two mobile players at the heart of that back line who are going to be able to handle that full-court press and the exposure that throws up.
“Eric Dier doesn’t owe Tottenham anything so he might view this as a good time to move on.”
Dier has been a useful servant for Spurs over the years but he needs to play regularly at this stage of his career. It is evident that Spurs will not provide him with the opportunities he needs and he should look to join a club where he will be a key starter.
Regular football during the second half of the campaign could help him cement his place in the England starting lineup ahead of the European Championships next summer.
