HULL, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur at the KC Stadium on May 21, 2017 in Hull, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Eric Dier’s alleged interest in Manchester United won’t sway Tottenham
Tottenham won’t care if Eric Dier wants to move to Manchester United
Reports are popping up all across England claiming that Eric Dier wants to move to Manchester United. His alleged wishes won’t change Tottenham’s stance about whether or not to sell their talented midfielder.
If Jose Mourinho does want to acquire Dier, he’s going to have to tempt Mauricio Pochettino and Daniel Levy with a mountain of cash. The Special One has already reportedly urged Ed Woodward to bid up to £60 million for the English international. Even so, Spurs officials have remained adamant they won’t sell Dier at any price.
For the record, I’m pretty skeptical of these reports claiming that Dier has his heart set on playing for Mourinho. He’s never seemed particularly interested in playing anywhere but Tottenham. Dier’s obvious dislike for United midfielder Ander Herrera also makes his reported interest in a move to Old Trafford dubious at best.
Even if he does want to move to United, his emotional desire isn’t going to matter to Tottenham. Spurs have Dier tied down with a long-term agreement and are under zero pressure to sell him this summer. They hold every possible advantage when it comes to this negotiation.
In the end, Manchester United will have to offer Spurs a fortune if they want to get a deal done. I suggested yesterday that the Red Devils might be forced to offer young talent as part of the deal. If Woodward and Mourinho refuse to go that route, they’ll simply need to increase their cash offer.
Currently, it seems that £50 million will serve as the floor for negotiations. Levy and company will try to push that price even higher. Woodward and Mourinho will struggle to find any meaningful way to hold the price down.
The only possible negotiating tool at their disposal would be to redouble their efforts to sign Nemanja Matic away from Chelsea. He’s been the other midfielder rumoured to be at the top of Mourinho’s shopping list. The Blues aren’t in any rush to strengthen a Premier League rival either.
In the end, Manchester United’s grand design to pry Eric Dier away from Tottenham will come down to simple finances. If Mourinho is willing to pay well over market value, then Spurs will consider parting with their young star. If not, Dier will stay in North London to torment United for years to come.
