Antonio Conte has stated it would take "important money" for a club to even try and prise Eric Dier away from Tottenham. Previously operating as a holding midfielder for the Lilywhites, it wasn't until Jose Mourinho's arrival as head coach when the ex-Sporting CP man started to play at centre-back on a regular basis.
Dier has been a huge hit in the role and made the position his own under Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and now Conte. With a host of quality centre-backs in the Premier League, the Italian certainly rates his Spurs player very highly and says he is now at an "important level" of defenders.
"Now in England, we are talking about the best tournament in the world, the best and most difficult tournament and now Eric is an important level of defenders," said the 53-year-old. "I think if someone wants to buy him or sign him, you have to put important money for him because I see other defenders and if I try to make comparison, I think you have to put important money if you want to sign him, but Tottenham does not want to sell him."
READ MORE: Every word Antonio Conte said on Tottenham transfer window, if Gil and Sarr will play and Romero
Tottenham as a team have improved massively since Conte replaced Espirito Santo at the helm ten months ago. Players have subsequently jumped up a level or two after spending quality time with the highly-rated boss on the training pitch, with Dier one of many to have seen their game improve in the process.
"I think the big improvement about Eric is that now he is a player who in every game is 100% focused. He is a reliable player. He’s not a player that alternates performance. Big performance or sometimes you drop. I think he’s a really reliable player. He’s providing great continuity in his role," admitted the head coach.
"For me, he’s a really important player. You know, he’s playing every game. I can tell you he’s a really good guy with great will, great desire to work and to improve himself. He knows very well he has space for improvement.
"I see every day in his eyes the desire to become stronger, stronger, stronger. To become a top defender. I see this in his eyes."
So how exactly does Dier improve even further? Well, one thing Conte wants from his player is more goals due to his presence in the box.
"He has to continue with this way, with his attention, with his focus and his desire," he added. "For sure in set-pieces if he scores some goals more, I am more happy. I think that maybe a player like him so tall, so strong physically has to be more effective to go on corners and set-pieces to score more goals. I find one more situation for him to try and improve."
Last featuring in the England squad back in 2021, Tottenham fans have been calling for Dier to earn a recall in time for this year's World Cup in Qatar. Certainly worthy of a place in the squad going on his superb performances under Conte, the decision now rests with Gareth Southgate.
"I did this job with a national team with Italy in the past. I know very well that when you are the coach of the national team it’s difficult," revealed Conte. "Every coach has to do their best, in this case, for the England team. I have great respect for the coach and the decision is in his hands.
"For sure, what I can tell you is that Eric improved a lot since I arrived. For sure we are talking about a reliable player. If he deserves to go or not, it depends on what the coach of the national team, Southgate, thinks. I have too much respect for him to tell something wrong or to try to convince him."
Another player who Conte can rely on is Ryan Sessegnon. Enduring a rather frustrating time at Tottenham prior to the second part of last campaign with injuries hampering him before and after his time with Hoffenheim, the boss has waxed lyrical about the ex-Fulham man and stated that he can "count on him" in both the Premier League and Champions League.
"About Sess, we are talking about now a young player but a reliable player who I can count on him for games in the Premier League or Champions League, for every game," said Conte. "You know very well I try in every game to make the right decision but in that role I am okay because I have Perisic and Sessegnon, two important players.
"He improved a lot and I remember very well since I arrived Sessegnon was another player. Now he is a reliable player and he has great confidence. He is strong physically and improved in his quality and technically.
"We are talking about a really good player, a young player that can become stronger but this is the difference between other young players. We are talking about a player who play many games and is reliable for every game, not only for tomorrow or FA Cup, for every game he is ready."
Harry Kane could potentially set a new record for Premier League goals in London derbies on Saturday afternoon when Fulham travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. One behind Thierry Henry's impressive total of 43, Conte has outlined that he can see Kane's "desire to do something special" and he is hoping it results him winning the trophies he deserves to get his hands on.
"The records underline that you are doing something special, and I think Harry in his career is doing something special in personal achievement because it's really a pity with so many personal big achievements and you don’t win (trophies)," he admitted. "Until now he hasn't won and usually when you score a lot of goals for your national team and club you deserve to have a good win on your back, but we are trying to work and help him to find and get this target.
"You know very well for us that Harry is important and we are talking about a world-class striker but I see the desire in him, the desire to do something special. When you win it means you lift trophies, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and with the national team the Euros, World Cup and these are trophies you have to lift and you are talking about a top player and I think he deserves this."
READ NEXT:
Daniel James, Hakim Ziyech and why Tottenham are not signing anyone on transfer deadline day
Bryan Gil breaks his Tottenham transfer silence after huge Valencia blow on deadline day
Alessandro Bastoni transfer hint dropped as Antonio Conte Tottenham masterplan takes vital step
How Paratici can still seal transfers for Tottenham after deadline day amid Moura exit talks
