January is a very difficult time to do business, but if 2023’s record-breaking windows are anything to go by, then we are in for an exciting month. Remember, too, that this is a year with major tournaments in it, so more players than usual might be keen on moves so as to improve their chances of appearing for their national teams.
With all that in mind, Sportsflava is again set to pass judgement on all the biggest deals as they happen, awarding grades to both clubs involved for the business they’ve done, as well as whether it’s the right move for each player.
Looking at the bigger picture, a brilliant bit of business! After losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich last summer, Spurs have responded in the best possible fashion by beating the Bavarians to the signing of Radu Dragusin and then dumping Dier on them. Daniel Levy may have copped a lot of flak for his work in the transfer market over the years, but Tottenham have done a serious number on one of the biggest clubs in world football here. Even in an atrocious era for English centre-backs, Dier can no longer get in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad, while he’s only featured four times for Spurs this season. In that context, €4m is a decent fee for a poor player with just six months left on his contract.
A very bizarre buy and the most unexpected transfer in football since Barcelona brought in Oriol Romeu this past summer. Bayern are obviously short on cover at the back and there are widespread rumours that Matthijs de Ligt is frustrated by a lack of game time at the Allianz Arena, meaning the Dutchman could quit the club. Thomas Tuchel obviously knows Dier from his time working in the Premier League and, at just €4m, the England international could also prove a bargain buy. However, he’s 29 and couldn’t even get in a Spurs side decimated by injuries to their best centre-halves. Bayern fans were already pretty upset by the fact that the Londoners’ took their top transfer target in Dragusin, so they’re likely to be furious that they’ve now signed a Tottenham reject.
A turn of events! Ange Postecoglou had almost zero faith in Dier’s ability, affording him just 198 minutes of game time during the first half of the season, yet Tuchel went out of his way to convince him to move to Munich. In truth, it was a no-brainer. Dier could never have imagined he’d get the chance to spend the remainder of his ‘peak’ years lining out for such a colossal club – and alongside his former Tottenham team-mate Kane. How much game time he’ll actually see is open to debate, but this is the stuff dreams are made of.
