Dier signs new Spurs deal

Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier has put pen to paper on a new long-term deal with the North Londoners.

The England Under-21 international, who has been deployed as a defensive midfielder through Spurs’ first four English Premier League fixtures this season, is now under contract at the club until the summer of 2020.

“If you look at the Training Centre, the young squad, the new stadium coming through – the club is in a great place and as long as we stick together, everything is looking very exciting,” Dier told Spurs’ official website.

“There is a great core here of young players and even the likes of Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are all still young. We have a young team, a core of young English players and young players in general and there is such a great future for the club.

“I loved every minute of my first season and to now sign a new deal for another five years, I’m happy and looking forward to the future.”

Dier, who joined the Spurs from Portuguese Primeira Liga side Sporting CP in a deal worth£4 million in 2014, has scored one goal in four EPL appearances this season.

Mata backing De Gea

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata believes compatriot David de Gea will put this summer’s Real Madrid transfer saga behind him and enjoy a successful 2015/16 campaign at Old Trafford.

De Gea, 24, was set to return to the Spanish capital for £29 million plus Keylor Navas, but one party–either United or Real–failed to filed the necessary paperwork in time.

“I’ve talked with him a lot. There have been hectic and stressful days but he is such a quiet, centred person, nothing changes.

“The last two years David has been the best player in our team. His saves have earned us a lot of points. I have no doubt this will be a very good year, too.

“I don’t think there’ll be a problem with the club, the coach or the fans. That’s what I perceive. The fans love him very much, he’s highly regarded by the club and the coach.

“I think it will be the same. Herrera and I will continue saving on petrol.”

The Spain international, who last featured for the Red Devils in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain on 29 July, was named Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons.