Tottenham transfer news: Spurs need to move on one player in order to secure a set of deals that could land Ange Postecoglou his ideal squad.
The transfer merry-go-round is well underway on deadline day. The entire window and what is left of it appears to be waiting for one domino to fall before everything else slots into place, at least that is the case for Tottenham.
Daniel Levy and Ange Postecoglou could have comfortably more than five deals still to close as the clock ticks down and that number is only going to get larger. The exits are the most important thing currently with any sales likely to fuel a set of incomings that would see the squad rebuild completed in remarkable fashion.
Dier is one of the few remaining senior centre-backs at Spurs and is unlikely to leave without a replacement being found but at this stage they haven't made progress towards Kelly, Tosin Adarabioyo or Perr Schuurs with further exits needed before things can move on.
It's a tricky spot to be in for Spurs who are ready to let Japhet Tanganga go as well as Sergio Reguilon. That could start the cascade of movement and confirmed deals that is needed to eventually see funds raised and squad slots opened up for players to come in.
It is a fine balancing act for Postecoglou as he looks to both add depth and quality whilst reducing the size of his overall group. Dier holds the key to this. If he finds the right next step it can open up a source of potential funds to spend on Kelly, Adarabioyo or even a late swoop for Schuurs, it also pushes the Conor Gallagher deal along too.
His departure would leave a homegrown space open for Gallagher and attention can turn then from a high-profile exit to a big incoming that really does change the game. Furthermore, securing a move for Dier and moving to centre-backs would allow further interest to be given to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and his attempted departure from north London with Fulham in talks to sign him.
As things stand nothing can quite move on at the pace that key players want it to and that could become a seriously big issue.