Report: Out-of-favour Spurs player has made it onto five-man transfer shortlist

According to a report in Gazzetta dello Sport (as relayed by Forza Roma), AS Roma are looking to sign two centre-backs in January, with Eric Dier being one of four Premier League defenders on the club’s radar.

If Dier had any lingering hope of potentially turning around his Tottenham career, that seemingly ended on Sunday when Ange Postecoglou left the 29-year-old on the bench even though he was without his two starting centre-backs.

The Australian explained after the game that he felt Emerson Royal would be better equipped to deal with the directness of Villa’s forwards than the England international (Football.London).

Some reports from Italy over recent weeks have stated that the Dier is Jose Mourinho’s number-one target and that the former Spurs head coach has even reached out to the Englishman regarding a switch to the Stadio Olimpico (TMW).

(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

Roma have Eric Dier on a five-man transfer shortlist

Gazzetta have now explained that given Chris Smelling’s injury problems and the fact that Evan Ndicka will not be available during the African Cup of Nations in January, the Giallorossi wish to sign two centre-backs in January.

The publication states that Dier is one of five names on the Serie A side’s shortlist, alongside Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior, RB Salzburg’s Oumar Solet and Chelsea duo, Trevor Chalobah and Malang Sarr.

The report adds that Roma have some issues in meeting the financial fair play requirements, which is why they would prefer loan deals with an option to buy.

Spurs Web Opinion

A loan deal is obviously not a possibility for Dier since his contract with Tottenham runs out next summer. I fully expect the centre-back to see out the remainder of his contract and leave as a free agent next summer.