The Tottenham Hotspur star has faced greater competition for his place in the team this term.
Tottenham’s Eric Dier
Spurs star Eric Dier has been heavily linked with an exit from the club this summer, with Manchester United reportedly readying a £40 million offer for the 23-year-old, according to the Mirror.
Mauricio Pochettino will surely not want to lose the England international during the off-season, but the competition Dier has faced after the arrival of Victor Wanyama may tempt him into leaving Tottenham, if United come in with a big money offer.
Pochettino has opted to play three at the back on numerous accessions this season, and if he plans on using that system for the majority of next term, it is highly unlikely that he will allow Dier to leave.
If he does sanction the former Sporting Lisbon man’s exit, however, here are three versatile players who could fill Dier’s shoes…
Geoffrey Kondogbia, Inter Milan:
The 24-year-old powerhouse would be the ideal replacement for Dier, should he leave this summer.
Standing at 6ft 2in tall, Kondogbia has the kind of physique that would enable him to be a success in the Premier League.
He is most comfortable when playing in the central midfield role, but can also slot in at centre-back if required, and his impressive energy levels make him ideally suited to Pochettino’s highly intense style of play.
Inter Milan’s Geoffrey Kondogbia in action
David Alaba, Bayern Munich:
The 24-year-old Austrian is even more versatile than Dier. He can play anywhere along the backline, across midfield or even in the more advanced wide areas.
It would be hard for Spurs to tempt Alaba into leaving the German champions, but with Pochettino’s exciting project at Tottenham, he could be interested in moving to the Premier League.
Bayern Munich’s David Alaba
Javi Martinez, Bayern Munich:
Another Bayern star, the Spaniard would be a superb addition to Pochettino’s squad. The 28-year-old would offer incredible experience, and his calm and composed manner of playing would undoubtedly help fill the void left behind by Dier, should he leave the club.
He can play in the deep-lying midfield role, or in central defence, and is an option that Spurs should most definitely pursue this summer.
Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez in action
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