Manchester United have reportedly reignited interest in Eric Dier, and are set to begin negotiations with Tottenham for the English midfielder.
According to a report by Transfer Market Web, Manchester United are set to attempt a move for Eric Dier for a second successive summer transfer window. Jose Mourinho is considering the English midfielder as a replacement for Michael Carrick, and is ready to sanction a move for him.
Dier has formed a major part of the core group of players that have helped Tottenham transform into a force to be reckoned with in recent seasons. Originally deployed as a full-back upon his move from Sporting Lisbon in the summer of 2014, the 24-year-old has since displayed the versatility that has made him an asset to Mauricio Pochettino.
Dier, though, has largely been deployed as a holding midfielder over the last two seasons – a position that he has made his own, appearing in all but one game in league and Europe in the current campaign. His impressive development at Tottenham hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Manchester United holding a long-standing interest in the player.
The Red Devils had attempted to secure Dier’s services last summer as well, when they were in his pursuit throughout the entire window. But, the Englishman stayed put at Tottenham, refuting claims that he had handed a transfer request to leave the club in favour of a possible move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United subsequently signed Nemanja Matic, who has become one of the first names on the team sheet for Mourinho. But, the club is now preparing for life after Michael Carrick, who is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season, making Dier a viable target.
However, conventional wisdom would have suggested that Manchester United would prioritise the signing of a box-to-box midfielder, with Dier’s skill sets rather similar to Matic’s. Nevertheless, the player could become a fine long-term addition Mourinho’s squad, who could become a solution in the immediate future and further.
With Mourinho earmarking Dier as a possible addition to his first-team setup in the summer, Manchester United are set to initiate negotiations with Tottenham over a potential move. The report suggests that Spurs would prefer not to sell the player.
But, an offer worth £55 million might just get them to consider a possible sale. The aforementioned figure is unlikely to bog Manchester United, who possess incredible financial muscle to launch the offensive for Dier, and it remains to be seen if they finally manage to secure his services this summer.
