‘Brilliant’ Tottenham player could now stay in January after what happened in Chelsea game

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier could yet stay at the club in January following Micky van de Ven’s injury.

That’s according to The Standard, with the outlet claiming that Spurs would prefer to offload the defender in January ahead of his contract expiring in the summer.

Eric Dier was handed his first Premier League minutes of the season on Monday as Tottenham fell to a 4-1 defeat against Chelsea.

The 29-year-old replaced Brennan Johnson in the first half after Cristian Romero was sent off for a rash tackle.

The Englishman performed well considering Spurs were later reduced to nine men and was part of the makeshift backline that kept Chelsea at bay until the 75th minute.

Dier has been heavily linked with a move away from Spurs after struggling for minutes so far this season, with Roma and Bayern Munich credited with an interest.

But after Van de Ven was forced off with what looks like a serious hamstring injury on Monday, Dier could yet see his contract out at Tottenham.

Dier could stay at Tottenham in January

The Standard reports that while Spurs would prefer to pick up a fee for Dier, he could yet stay at the club in January.

This will depend on the severity of Van de Ven’s injury and whether Tottenham are able to sign a new right-sided centre-back in the upcoming transfer window.

Dier had been frozen out by Postecoglou up until Monday’s game but he looks set for a run in the side now. 

Indeed, Van de Ven could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines while Romero will now serve a three-match ban.

It’s unclear who will partner Dier in defence on Saturday as Spurs travel to Wolves after he played alongside Emerson Royal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on Monday.

While it’s clear that Dier doesn’t have a long-term future at Tottenham, it would be a surprise to see the ‘brilliant’ defender leave in January. 

Spurs are short of options at centre-back and their two starters will be ruled out for the next few weeks.

Of course, Postecoglou’s men could go out and sign a couple of centre-backs in January. But it would be a surprise to see them bring in two given they also need reinforcements elsewhere.