Five other targets who could’ve been better than new Spurs signing.
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Tottenham Hotspur today confirmed a deal to sign exciting English prospect Eric Dier from Sporting Lisbon to add to their options in central defence, but CaughtOffside looks at five other players that could have made better signings in that position.
Although Dier no doubt has great potential to go on and become a star of the Premier League, this transfer looks like something of a gamble for the north London side at the moment, and he may not currently possess the required quality to help Mauricio Pochettino’s side make that leap into the top four places in their quest to claim Champions League football.
Some other high-quality players look like being available this summer, and others had been linked with Tottenham prior to this move. See below for five other defenders who may have been better additions than Dier.
5) Steven Caulker (Queens Park Rangers)
A former Tottenham player, Steven Caulker was available this summer after being allowed to move back to the Premier League from relegated Cardiff City. The England international never really got enough of a chance to prove himself at White Hart Lane, despite a highly impressive loan spell at Swansea City in the 2011/12 season. Unfortunately for Spurs, Caulker has now been snapped up by newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers, and could go down as one of the signings of the summer if Harry Redknapp’s side can improve on their last showing in the top flight.
4) John Stones (Everton)
Another superb English prospect, but one a little more proven after an extended run in the Everton first-team last season. The 20-year-old has already shown great maturity beyond his years and outstanding potential as a top class centre-back. The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United have already been linked with the player, while he was on standby for Roy Hodgson’s England squad at this summer’s World Cup and arguably should have gone. He may well have been more expensive, but Stones looks like a highly exciting young player well worth investing in based on recent form.
3) Daniel Agger (Liverpool)
A bit of a wildcard option, but Liverpool seem ready to sell Daniel Agger this summer after a slight dip in form, plus the £20m signing of Dejan Lovren from Southampton (another player previously linked with Tottenham). Spurs perhaps should have considered a bid for the experienced Danish international, who has established himself as one of the toughest and most committed central defenders in the Premier League in his long stay at Anfield. Barcelona are also tracking him at the moment, so he must still have something to offer, even if Brendan Rodgers is no longer desperate to keep him.
2) Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon)
Dier’s Sporting Lisbon team-mate Marcos Rojo has also been linked with Tottenham among other clubs this summer. The 24-year-old, who can also play at left-back, has been in superb form in the Portuguese top flight and also impressed for his national side Argentina as they reached this summer’s World Cup final in Brazil. A highly promising and versatile player, Rojo would have been a far more sensible signing in terms of being ready to come in and be a regular straight away. With Spurs neglecting to move for him, he may now head to one of their rivals, with Arsenal and Liverpool also linked with him this summer.
1) Mehdi Benatia (Roma)
Something of a surprise target perhaps, but Roma star Mehdi Benatia is another to have been linked with Tottenham this summer, despite also widely being rumoured to be in the sights of bigger clubs such as Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Perhaps the rock-solid Moroccan international would have been out of Spurs’ price range, and perhaps he would have opted for a move elsewhere as he would likely be keen to play in the Champions League, but there’s no question that the north London side would have been landing one of the best centre-backs in Europe if they had stepped up their interest in him.