For the past few weeks, several claims from the Italian media have talked about AS Roma as an option for Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier in January.
Corriere dello Sport, relayed by Calciomercato, now state the Serie A side want to provide an escape route for the Tottenham player in the winter market.
Chris Smalling has been sidelined with an injury since September, and recently made a trip to London, along with the Roma medical staff, to visit a specialist.
José Mourinho was disappointed after the 33-year-old stopped training prior to the clash against Monza. He expected a ‘higher pain threshold and a different spirit of sacrifice’ from the Englishman but that didn’t happen.
This didn’t please Mourinho, and he has ‘increased pressure’ on Roma general manager Tiago Pinto to bring in a new defender in January. This is where Dier would fit in.
Mourinho trained the 29-year-old when he was at Tottenham, and appreciates his profile and experience.
The defender hasn’t made an appearance this season for Spurs and has a deal expiring in 2024. The report says these two factors make him a market opportunity for Roma, who could open the door for him in the next window.
Meanwhile, RomaGiallorossa.it state the Italian club have decided not to sign an attacker in January and instead invest on strengthening their defence, due to Smalling’s situation.
For the centre-back position, Roma have identified Dier as the target and the report adds he would ‘gladly embrace’ Mourinho again.
