Ben Davies sustained a suspected hamstring injury during Tottenham Hotspur’s FA Cup victory over Burnley on Friday but head coach Ange Postecoglou said the defender’s absence would not impact Eric Dier’s potential exit this January.
The Athletic reported on Friday Bayern Munich were in talks with Dier as one of several centre-back options, with the 29-year-old England international into the final six months of his Spurs deal.
Postecoglou stated Dier’s absence from the match day squad against Burnley was due to an injury sustained in training and separate from any transfer activity.
“He just pulled up sore and didn’t train yesterday,” the Spurs head coach said of Dier.
When asked about the links to Bayern, Postecoglou replied: “Separate issue mate but don’t question my integrity. When I say he’s injured, he’s injured. He didn’t train yesterday. I can get Vision (Spurs’ training footage) in for you, you can ask him. It’s got nothing to do with anything else.
“When you ask me whether he’s injured, he’s injured. I didn’t make that up. If he wasn’t injured I’d say he wasn’t selected. It’s easy for me to say. He’s injured and in terms of anything else that’s happening, not on my radar. Not that I’ve heard of. If there is something I’m sure I’ll hear of it, but fair to say in the last 24 hours we’ve been focusing on the game and the guys that are available.”
Davies played the full 90 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs progressed to the FA Cup fourth round with a 1-0 win but Postecoglou confirmed at full-time he is now set for a spell on the sidelines.
The left-back has deputised in the centre of defence this season with first-choice pair Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero injured, but Postecoglou dismissed suggestions Spurs could now no longer afford to lose Dier in light of another defensive injury.
“Ben Davies looks like he done his hamstring,” he added. “So, it looks like he will be out and Gio (Lo Celso) has a bit of tightness but hoping it is nothing serious.”
When asked if he can he afford to lose Dier this month on the balance of centre-backs with Davies injured, Postecoglou replied: “Yes.”
Dier has been reduced to a bit-part role at Spurs this season, making just four appearances in all competitions.
Tottenham are also in talks to sign Genoa’s 21-year-old centre-back Radu Dragusin, while Van de Ven returned to the squad against Burnley following two months out with a hamstring injury.
Spurs secured a 1-0 victory over Burnley thanks to Pedro Porro’s solo effort from distance 12 minutes from time.
They return to action against Manchester United on January 14.
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