Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills does not believe Eric Dier would have been given assurances over his position in the side before signing a new contract with the club.
The 26-year-old who has now been at Spurs for six years committed his future to the North Londoners earlier this week when he penned a new deal until 2024 (Spurs official).
Dier found himself lining up in the heart of the Spurs defence following the resumption of the league and he could well take his place in the side against Crystal Palace on Sunday, having now served his four-match suspension.
The England international has admitted that he was looking forward to developing as a centre-half and Jose Mourinho has also indicated that he sees the former Sporting Lisbon man as an integral part of his defence moving forward.
However, Mills believes the Portuguese coach will not have made any promises to the defender to get him to commit himself to the club and suggested that only the world’s best players get to pick which position they play.
When asked if Dier would have been given assurances by the Spurs boss, the pundit told Sky Sports News (21/07/20 at 10:05 am): “Not unless you are an absolute superstar.
“I think we even saw with Lionel Messi. He was at one stage pushed out to the right-hand side, he wasn’t the centre-forward.
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“You have to be Cristiano Ronaldo to demand those types of things.”
Mills suggested that Dier’s decision to sign the deal was partly influenced by the lack of potential options in the post-COVID football economy.
He added: “I think we will see a lot more of these contract [signings] over the course of the summer. I think it will be about clubs retaining players and giving them a new deal to keep them at the club. Rather than bringing in new players.
“With everything that has happened over the last four or five months. Everything that might happen in five or six months, where we a still a little unsure.
“Will players want to move in the window? Up to their families and all the changes that come about that. New surroundings, new protocols and everything?
“I think we’ll see a lot more players and clubs saying ‘okay, just stick around for another couple of years and keep everything settled’ rather than an influx of new transfers.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It is pretty clear that Jose has put his faith in Dier as the side’s main centre-back going forward. Based on the performances since the restart, it looks like Alderweireld has overtaken Sanchez as the 26-year-old’s starting partner.
Mills’ point about the post-COVID football landscape is certainly a valid one. We are unlikely to see big transfer fees for the next couple of years based on the estimates we are getting about the losses different clubs have made.
Strangely, I think that situation could actually end up working in our favour. We do not spend big amounts on transfers in comparison to European elites. The fact that the likes of Madrid and Barca might not be able to pay massive money for players might help us keep hold of the likes of Kane and Son.
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