In a recent interview, Frank McAvennie stated his belief that Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier is now on borrowed time at Spurs.
So far this season, Dier has endured a somewhat turbulent season in north London, with the 27-year-old missing just one of Tottenham’s first 19 Premier League fixtures of the season, this absence being due to a groin strain.
However, over their last nine league fixtures, the £92,000 per week defender has been an unused substitute on six occasions, with Spurs losing all three games in which Dier did feature, as well as Jose Mourinho claiming that the England international was suffering a “crisis of confidence.”
Speaking recently to Football Insider, former West Ham United and Celtic forward McAvennie stated his belief that the centre-back is getting found out this season, before suggesting that Mourinho could look to move Dier on at the end of the season.
McAvennie said: “I think he is on borrowed time at Spurs. He is playing at centre-half but, for me, he’s not a centre-half, he’s a midfielder. I would have loved to have played against him. He was a player who would break up the play, get on the ball and keep it, pass it backwards, sideways.
“He is not the quickest player in the world and he is also not one that is going to go in and win the ball. I think he is getting found out at centre-half. I always wondered why Mourinho decided and then continued to play Dier in there. Mourinho needs a couple of decent centre-halves in the summer.”
Should Spurs sell Dier this summer?
Yes
No
Transfer Tavern Take
Despite McAvennie’s – as well as Mourinho’s – concerns about Dier’s displays this season, after looking at the 27-year-old’s statistics, they would appear to paint a rather different picture about the defender’s level of performance so far this term.
According to SofaScore, over his 21 Premier League appearances, Dier has averaged 0.9 interceptions, 0.8 tackles, 4.8 clearances and 51.5 accurate passes per match, culminating in an average match rating of 6.92 – ranking him as the club’s eighth-best performer in the top flight, and their second-best centre-back behind Toby Alderweireld.
As such, perhaps the argument could be made that the criticism Dier has received so far this season is not entirely justified, something which the defender himself has claimed.
In other news: Tottenham have been sent a warning over Harry Kane – find out more here!
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