Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will have a £200m transfer budget to spend in the summer, according to The Sun, who claim that the Red Devils could splash 17.5% of that kitty on Tottenham Hotspur utility man Eric Dier.
During the 2015-16 campaign, Dier was a key player for Spurs, starting 37 of their 38 Premier League games, predominantly as a defensive midfielder alongside Mousa Dembele.
His form was so impressive that Dier earned a regular starting spot in England’s midfield.
Although he has only missed two PL games for Spurs this season, Dier has lost his place in Tottenham’s midfield to Victor Wanyama, who is now seen as the better option to partner Dembele.
The majority of Dier’s appearances this term have come at centre-back, either playing in a three-man defence, or filling in for Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld in the middle of the back four, with both Belgian internationals suffering injury problems.
Dier is still an important squad player for Spurs but, he arguably doesn’t get into Tottenham’s best XI when everybody is fit.
Although Spurs have used 3-4-3 more than once, Mauricio Pochettino generally favours a 4-2-3-1 system, with Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Dembele and Wanyama creating a strong spine, allowing the likes of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane and either Heung-Min Son or Erik Lamela to be more expressive further forward, while full-backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker offer energy and width .
Dier is not the only player Mourinho wants to bring to Old Trafford. The majority of Man United’s £200m transfer kitty is likely to be blown on Antoine Griezmann as The Sun claim the Frenchman is top of Mourinho’s wish-list, with an £80m bid lined up.