Dean Jones has backed Tottenham Hotspur star Eric Dier to have a Harry Maguire-esque turnaround to his Spurs career.
Dier, who had been a prominent figure for the club in previous seasons found himself sidelined for much of the initial parts of the season. The suspension of Cristian Romero and injury to Micky van de Ven has opened up a door though.
The 29-year-old Englishman had a good showing against Chelsea and started the next game against Wolves. He is surely in line for a start when Spurs take Aston Villa on this weekend.
Dier joined Spurs from Sporting way back in 2014. Initially a defensive midfielder, it was Jose Mourinho during his time at Spurs who helped transition the Englishman into a centre-back.
According to a recent report from O Jogo (via Sport Witness), Sporting CP are ‘studying’ the possibility of snapping up Dier on a free transfer at the end of the current campaign. A return to his former club could be enticing for the player.
Can Eric Dier turn things around at Tottenham?
After being much ridiculed during his time in Manchester, Harry Maguire is having a renaissance of sorts this season. He has featured 11 times for the club under Erik ten Hag and managed to solidify the backline.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, here is what Dean Jones had to say about Eric Dier and how he could take inspiration from his English counterpart Harry Maguire.
“I can see Eric Dier having a Harry Maguire turnaround if he wants it. I don’t think it’s beyond reason that it can happen this season.
“I don’t think he has got a long-term future at Tottenham but, for the sake of this season, Eric Dier can win people over enough to show that he can at least help them through moments of this season.”
“Although Dier is not going to be a first-choice player and is not going to be good enough to be part of Tottenham’s starting XI because of the new expectations and levels that they are striving towards, I think it’s important that you do have somebody like Dier because of the mentality he has got. He has got a very strong sense of worth.”
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Dier may find himself featuring more this season but it seems highly unlikely that he will have a future here at the club. The Englishman is just not good enough to be a part of our starting XI.
A return to Sporting might mean ‘financial sacrifices’ but the emotional appeal should help him make this decision. For the sake of this season though, let’s hope Dier can keep up a high level and help us when we don’t have Romero or Van de Ven available.