What will be Eric Dier's role at Bayern Munich?
Having initially joined Bayern Munich in January on a six-month loan from Tottenham, Eric Dier is now set to remain in Bavaria for an additional 12 months. Dier activated the option to extend the contract by 12 months by starting four games since joining the club in January. The English defender made his fifth start for Rekordmeister on Friday against Freiburg.
Thomas Tuchel reportedly endorsed the signing of Eric Dier during the winter transfer window. The German coach is pleased with the Englishman’s performances to date. With injuries, suspension, and poor form troubling other center-backs in the squad over the last month, Dier hasn’t done himself any disservice when called upon so far during Ruckrunde. Between now and the end of the season, be it in the starting lineup or as a substitute, Dier is likely to be called upon regularly to play in the center-back position.
Dier may find it difficult to get game time next season if he doesn’t feature in the plans of the new head coach and new defenders arrive in Munich during the summer transfer window. The English defender may also get the opportunity to prove himself if the new head coach decides to start from zero in terms of squad assessment. Let us now look at the realistic options for Eric Dier in the 2024/25 season.
Eric Dier as a Center-back
Eric Dier would be a solid fourth-choice option for Bayern in a back-four system. So far, he hasn’t looked out of place alongside either Kim Min-jae or Matthijs de Ligt during Ruckrunde.
The Englishman also has experience playing in a back-three formation from his time at Tottenham and England. Based on his experience and proven effectiveness in that system, a new coach who favours three at the back may be inclined to give him regular playing time or even consider him a starter. A back four is a much more viable option for the current squad at Bayern, but things can change drastically under a new head coach. Dier has the quality to excel in a back four and back three, which makes him a good option for the new coach.
Eric Dier in midfield
Earlier in his career, Dier held his own as a defensive midfielder at Tottenham Hotspur. He also played in this role for England on a few occasions. His past performances as a midfield anchor, more often than not tended to be more solid than spectacular. Looking ahead, at 30, it’s unlikely that a new coach would play him as a number six ahead of the promising youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic. With Bayern reportedly looking for an enforcer-type midfielder ahead of next season, Dier would merely be an emergency option in the midfield.
Eric Dier as right-back
At various times during his career, Dier has highlighted his all-round defensive capabilities by putting in some decent shifts as a right-back in addition to his more established duties as center-back and defensive midfielder. If the likes of Noussair Mazraoui, Sacha Boey, and Konrad Laimer are all still with Die Roten at the start of next season, then Dier would at best be likely an afterthought as a right-back.
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Conclusion
Putting things in reasonable perspective, Eric Dier can be an appreciated defensive utility player during next season. The player deserves credit for backing himself to take on the challenge of fighting for game time at Bayern. A new coach will definitely like to have players of this type of attitude and drive in the squad. The English defender may have a role to play in a long season as Bayern look to get back to properly challenging for all trophies from 2024/25.