Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier is undergoing a medical at Bayern Munich after agreeing a move to join the German champions.
The Athletic reported on Friday last week that Bayern were in talks with Dier as one of several central defensive options, with the Bundesliga side’s head coach Thomas Tuchel confirming on Thursday that a medical for the player was taking place.
Dier, 29, is into the final six months of his Tottenham deal and has been free to talk to foreign clubs about a pre-contract agreement. His Bayern move, though, will be processed for this month.
“From experience, we know that things can go wrong at the last moment,” Tuchel said.
“He is in Munich at the moment and we are trying to sign him, to finalise the deal and by doing so get another option as a defender for our squad.”
Tuchel’s reference of transfers breaking down at a late stage appeared to be a reference for Bayern’s failed attempt to sign midfielder Joao Palhinha from Fulham in September.
Tottenham have reached an agreement to sign centre-back Radu Dragusin from Genoa — in a move that will see full-back Djed Spence join the Italian club on loan — after Bayern had monitored a move for the Romanian international as they looked at options to strengthen their defensive depth.
Dier has been reduced to a bit-part role at Spurs this season, making just four appearances in all competitions, with the arrival of Dragusin likely to limit his minutes further.
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou was asked about Dier’s future amid speculation of a move to West Ham United and said: “No idea. Not on my radar.”
Postecoglou added: “I think Eric (Dier) is contracted to this football club, and he’s as much in control of his destiny as anyone else.”
Despite centre-back injuries and suspensions at Tottenham, Dier has been behind full-backs Ben Davies and Emerson Royal when first-choice pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been unavailable.
Should Dier complete a move to Bayern, he will join his former Tottenham and England team-mate Harry Kane. The striker has been in strong form since his €100million move to Bayern, scoring 25 goals in 22 matches across all competitions.
Bayern head coach Tuchel currently has Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs De Ligt and Kim Min-jae as centre-back options, though the latter is with South Korea at the Asian Cup.
(Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
