5) Eric Dier – Tottenham Hotspur
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Bought from Sporting Lisbon, Dier was primarily utilised in defence last season. The arrival of Toby Alderweireld and Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical modification pushed him further up where he started the season in the defensive midfield role.
The English star has made the position his own as the season has progressed, protecting the back-four, thereby making Spurs’ defence the meanest in the league and also playing a massive 51 games across all competitions. He also adapts to the requirements, slipping back between the back two occasionally and playing the sweeper role. Dier has been one of the main reasons for Spurs’ sustained title push.
Spurs are usually known to be soft but Dier has added steel in the middle. A shoo-in to take on the defensive midfield role England has been crying out for since the premature end of Owen Hargreaves’ career.
