Sporting Lisbon are reportedly interested in re-signing Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier in the January transfer window, although the Portuguese club could wait until next summer to capture the defender.
The 29-year-old is yet to make a competitive appearance for Tottenham since the arrival of Australian Ange Postecoglou as Spurs boss in the summer as a permanent replacement for Antonio Conte.
Dier featured heavily in the Premier League for the Lilywhites last term as they finished eighth in the top flight, starting 31 matches and scoring two goals.
The centre-back has been an important figure for England since making his senior debut in December 2014, earning 49 caps, including one at last year's World Cup in Qatar.
According to The Times, Sporting Lisbon are preparing a move to bring Dier back to the place that he commenced his footballing journey as a child.
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The report claims that the Primeira Liga outfit are considering signing the centre-back next summer, at which point his current deal in North London will have expired.
It is also understood that Sporting could make an attempt to recruit Dier in the January transfer window, however they would only be willing to propose a reduced offer for his services.
Bayern Munich were supposedly handed the chance to sign the Englishman in the summer, although a move to the Bundesliga champions did not materialise.
It was suggested in late September that Jose Mourinho's Roma were plotting a New Year move for Dier, with the former Chelsea and Spurs boss wishing to reunite with the defender in Serie A.
The Lilywhites are allegedly willing to entertain offers in January, as the player continues to sit on the sidelines and watch his teammates begin the season strongly.
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Postecoglou's men are currently top of the Premier League standings after going unbeaten during their first eight contests, collecting 20 points from a possible 24, with only North London rivals Arsenal able to match their tally.
Spurs made it back-to-back wins in the league on Saturday afternoon with a 1-0 success against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, where summer arrival Micky van de Ven - who is essentially Dier's replacement - netted a second-half winner.
Despite not featuring in a single starting lineup in the Premier League so far this term, Postecoglou has insisted that the defender is still part of his plans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With the international break upon us, Dier will have a fortnight on the training pitch to impress the former Celtic boss before Spurs host fellow Londoners Fulham on October 23.
Carter White
