Eric Dier, who went to school in the Algarve before being whisked away to the prestigious Sporting Lisbon Academy at Alcochete, has signed a new contract at Tottenham Hotspur.
The England Under-21 utility player joined Spurs from Sporting Lisbon for €5.5 million last year and has now committed himself to the north London club until 2020.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino revealed he has high hopes for Dier’s development: “He has played well in midfield and was comfortable in that position. Eric’s skill is he can play in different positions on the pitch. Eric started last season as a full-back and scored in the first two games. When you play in different positions you add to your game and so gain better tools to be a better player.”
Dier made 36 appearances last season and intends to continue his improvement. “I believe in myself and my quality, but I didn’t really know what to expect and I didn’t think I’d play that many games. I said at the time I would try my best and see where it took me, and it has taken me here. I was really happy with my first season but there is still a lot of work to do. I need to continue improving and I will keep on giving my best.” Eric Dier impressed as he helped the England U21 team beat Norway 1-0 in the opening game of their Euro 2017 qualifying campaign on an artificial pitch in Drammen.
By CHRIS WRIGHT
