Football

Manchester United end Dier pursuit with Spurs showing more strength

With Tottenham refusing to sell Eric Dier, Manchester United have been forced to look elsewhere.

Manchester United have ended their pursuit of Eric Dier with Tottenham Hotspur refusing to sell, reports the Mirror.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is adamant that Dier – who is under contract until 2021 – will not leave this summer and with the player himself not expressing publicly he wants to go, the Red Devils have been forced to look elsewhere.

Manchester United manager Jose MourinhoManchester United manager Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is keen to sign a new defensive midfielder and made the England international his first choice, but despite an approach to the North London club, United were simply told he is not for sale.

This is a huge victory for Tottenham, less because they keep Dier – who while an important part of the squad is not as indispensable as Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen or Harry Kane, say – but more because the club are no longer having their hand forced in the transfer market.

Kyle Walker has admittedly left for a Premier League rival in Manchester City, but this was after the right-back had fallen out of manager Mauricio Pochettino’s first team plans and Levy held out for a world record fee for a defender of £45m, rising to £50m (BBC).

Spurs have been the most consistent team in the English top flight over the past two seasons and have one of the brightest young bosses in Pochettino, so aside from inflated wages there is little reason for any of their players to leave.

In the past stars such as Gareth Bale, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick and Luka Modric have been poached by “bigger” clubs, but by holding Man United at bay for Dier, Tottenham have signaled exits will only happen on their terms now.

Tottenham's Eric DierTottenham’s Eric Dier

Related Topics