Transfer News: Manchester United tried to sign Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur in 2019
According to Tom Allnutt of the Times (h/t Subscription Required), Manchester United tried to sign Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 and promised to play him as a defender.
Spurs were managed by Mauricio Pochettino that year until his sacking in November 2019. Dier was used largely as a defensive midfielder by the Argentine manager in the 2018-19 season, but he has always wanted to play as a centre-back.
Hence, United wanted to sign the defender by guaranteeing that he would play in defence. That was also the year where Spurs reached the final of the UEFA Champions League, where they lost in the final to Liverpool.
According to the Daily Star back in September 2019, United were keen to sign both Lucas Moura and Dier as the duo were out of favour with Pochettino during that time. What happened next is public knowledge.
Dier living the dream at Spurs
Poch was sacked soon after and went on to become the manager of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), while Dier stayed at N17 along with Lucas. Dier also got his wish to play in defence, doing so under Jose Mourinho on a regular basis.
Now, Dier is an irreplaceable part of manager Antonio Conte’s starting XI and has played in every single minute of Spurs’ eight matches this season, scoring one goal.
He also earned a call-up to England’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League games this month and could make Gareth Southgate’s 26-man shortlist for the FIFA World Cup in November as well.
More Tottenham News:
- Antonio Conte tells Tottenham Hotspur fans not to forget about Oliver Skipp
- Spurs News: All Tottenham Hotspur players called for England’s youth teams in September
- Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma eyeing January deal for Tottenham Hotspur defender Japhet Tanganga
Had he moved to Man United, who knows what could have happened with his career? The Red Devils signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City for a then world-record fee for a defender in the summer of 2019.
