caughtoffside
·15 de novembro de 2024
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·15 de novembro de 2024
Bayern Munich are currently flying, with new boss Vincent Kompany having re-established the old order in the Bundesliga.
The Bavarian giants have yet to lose a game in the German top-flight – the only side to maintain this record – and lead the table by five points. Notably, they sit nine points clear of Xabi Alonso’s 2023/24 champions Bayer Leverkusen in fourth.
Eric Dier, however, might be the one clear loser in this process despite having moved on a free transfer to Sabener Straße the prior summer.
(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Christian Falk now reports that the change in management (following Thomas Tuchel’s exit) simply hasn’t benefitted the former Tottenham ace.
A change in tactics – which now sees the defence play a high line to maximise pressure in the opponent’s half – appears ill-suited to the 30-year-old’s qualities.
“When Thomas Tuchel left his position at Bayern and Kompany came in, it wasn’t necessarily the best set of circumstances for Eric Dier,” the BILD reporter informed CaughtOffside in his exclusive Fact Files column with the Daily Briefing.
“This is because the new system has Bayern’s defenders playing incredibly high up the pitch, which means the centre-backs need to be very fast with all this room behind them. This doesn’t particularly suit Dier’s game, so it doesn’t make much sense for Bayern Munich to keep him.
“His contract is running out and he’s 30 years of age. Bayern are looking for new and young defenders who can grow into the role (like Ousmane Diomande of Sporting Lisbon).”
It’s never pleasant for an ageing star to be forced to actively contemplate their future following the arrival of the next shiny toy in the transfer window.
Given Dier is currently struggling for minutes – 141 minutes in six games – under Vincent Kompany, however, it’s difficult to avoid the subject. Particularly given ongoing links to reported Arsenal target Ousmane Diomande.
“I heard the scouts at Bayern Munich have been watching Diomande closely. Many clubs are behind him. He won’t be very cheap, but it’s an investment for the future,” Falk said.
“If Bayern can get a player of this age, I think Eric Dier has to leave. That said, if Bayern don’t sign a new player until the summer, Dier could be an option. He’s doing the job competently when he’s called upon and he’s not complaining loudly when he’s on the bench.
“He’s a good friend of Harry Kane, so it’s not like it’s certain he’ll leave, but he has a full perspective of his situation at the club.”
It raises an interesting question of how Harry Kane might react to his former Tottenham colleague being forced to seek pastures new.
Not to suggest the Bayern hierarchy is incapable of communicating the necessity of bringing in more suitable defensive options to meet the demands of Kompany’s football!
However, one might reasonably suspect it’s crossed the minds of decision-makers that the England skipper may not take the news entirely well to begin with.
Ao vivo