As Tottenham gear up to take on LASK Linz in their first Europa League group stage encounter, talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent has claimed that Eric Dier will be a ‘big miss’ and a potential ’cause for concern’ for Jose Mourinho.
Speaking candidly to Football Insider, the former Spurs striker has delivered his take on Dier and how important he could be to Mourinho given their lack of options at centre-back.
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Could Dier be crucial?
This comes after Tottenham threw away a comfortable three-goal cushion at the weekend during their humbling 3-3 home draw with West Ham, with Spurs still arguably short in defensive cover. Joe Rodon became the club’s seventh signing of the transfer window during EFL deadline day, putting pen to paper on an £11m deal potentially rising to £15m (BBC).
Given Spurs’ capitulation at the weekend, his acquisition seemingly couldn’t come at a better time, with Bent now claiming that Dier could still be a huge miss at the back for Mourinho.
“Whenever somebody gets an injury while there away on international duty that is a cause for concern for Jose Mourinho,” explained Bent to Football Insider.
“With Eric Dier, Mourinho really rates him, he tried to sign him when he was at Manchester United.
“It’s one of those things that is unfortunate and he’ll be a big miss for Spurs.
“Spurs haven’t got that many options at centre-back.”
Transfer Tavern take
Even though the Englishman’s performances in defence have attracted mixed reviews, Mourinho seems to admire Dier as a makeshift centre-half, but only time will tell whether he sticks with him in that position after Rodon’s signing.
Spurs fans, should Dier continue in defence upon his injury return? Have your say in the comments section below…
In other news: Pundit Alex McLeish even suggested he could be out for three more weeks…
