Tottenham Hotspur star Eric Dier has signed a new four-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2024.
Tottenham had been confident they could convince him to sign a new contract and now their wishes have been granted.
Former Premier League striker Kevin Phillips even likened Dier to James Milner, having played with the Liverpool defender during his time at Aston Villa.
The former Sunderland forward believes the Englishman’s switch to centre-back could unleash Tanguy Ndombele next season.
Dier, 26, who was a firm favourite of former boss Mauricio Pochettino, has started as a defender under his successor Jose Mourinho since the Premier League restart.
Phillips insists that the former England international is Tottenham’s answer to Milner because of his versatility. He told football writer Dylan Childs “it is always good to have a utility player in your squad.
“He is like Milner at Liverpool as he can play all sorts of positions. Mourinho sees him as a centre-half so that could be his solution for next season.
“If he comes out of the midfield area it may free up a slot for Ndombele who might perform next season. It is always good to see a long-term servant of the club handed a new deal.”
It is easy to see where Phillips is coming from, as both players can play in the defence or midfield, but surely all similarities must end there.
Dier was moved from the defence to the midfield in his second season with Spurs, before dropping back down to the back line, and he has put in a string of impressive performances in recent weeks. However, he is yet to win a trophy with the north London club.
In the meantime, Milner has won the Premier League three times, the Champions League, the FA Cup and League Cup – to name but a few.
While all of this success can’t entirely be attributed to the veteran, his work ethic is second to none.
He was famously part of the side that beat Pochettino’s team in the European final last year, coming on in the 62nd minute to replace Georginio Wijnaldum, although he was unlucky not to start the match in the first place.
Moreover, Milner has effortlessly continued to put in a hard graft, whereas Dier has struggled for consistency over the years, as he has wrestled with numerous injuries, illness and mixed form.
The 34-year-old, who started his career in 2002, has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon, as Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time in a special ceremony at Anfield earlier this week.
Can Dier emulate Milner’s longevity? It is too early to say at the moment.
Tottenham fans, do you think the former Sporting Lisbon man is your version of James Milner? Let us know down below!