Joey and Chandler. Kenan and Kel. Bert and Ernie. Dier and Dele.
They were the best of friends, riding the wave of the early Pochettino years with a bromance that warmed the hearts of Tottenham fans. The two were inseparable on and off the pitch, a midfield tour de force, breaking into the England team at the same time. They even appeared on Gogglebox together.
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But over the years, there’s been fewer and fewer Spurs TV appearances. There’s been less and less social media banter. They’ve both lost their England places; their twinned success on the pitch more infrequent.
And now Dier may have delivered the final nail in the coffin.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the 26-year-old namechecked Jan Vertonghen as the player he’s missed the most during the lockdown.
Dier said: “It’s also been really nice to be able to see people again – from afar! This has been a very strange experience. Normally our relationship with each other, the club, the staff, is very intense.
“We see each other every day, compete against each other every day and experience all the highs and lows with each other. So, not to see each other in these circumstances has been a unique experience.
“Since a very young age, we’ve all been used to being able to play football and to be with those people. Now, suddenly, I’ve gone six, seven weeks without seeing Jan Vertonghen! That’s starting to take its toll!”
That’s got to hit Dele like a knife to the heart.
There’s only one solution. Dier’s best friends with Jan. Dele needs to buddy up with Toby.
