Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier, a player already widely tipped to captain England in the future, is reportedly a potential summer target for reigning German champions Bayern Munich, resurgent Premier League leaders Chelsea and other un-named clubs.
According to The Times, both Bayern and Chelsea are among a list of several sides 'monitoring' Dier's current situation after the 22-year-old's lack of playing time in his preferred central midfield role this season, leading to concerns about his England place.
Dier has featured in 20 games in all competitions since the campaign began, but more than half of those have been as a stand-in central defender during Toby Alderweireld's injury spell.
With Alderweireld back in the team against Manchester United at the weekend, Dier was left on the bench as an unused substitute after Mauricio Pochettino chose not to break up the midfield partnership between Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.
It was then rising youngster Harry Winks that Pochettino later turned to as Spurs looked for a way back into the game at Old Trafford.
Dier generally impressed in a poor England side at Euro 2016 and was one of the stars as Spurs mounted a serious Premier League title challenge last season. And, were Bayern to make a genuine approach, playing abroad would not be alien to him.
Briefly a teenage loan signing for Everton in 2011, Dier spent a significant portion of his early life in Portugal and began his football career in the youth ranks at Sporting CP in Lisbon. He later played 31 times for the club's first team before returning to England to join Spurs in 2014.
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