Former Spurs star Eric Dier has snubbed a move to West Ham – but Ally McCoist believes the Hammers may have actually dodged a bullet.
It has been a woeful couple of years for both West Ham and their bitter rivals Spurs.
The Hammers actually finished above Tottenham Hotspur last season.
Only four places separate West Ham and Tottenham in the bottom half of the table again this season.
But it is West Ham who find themselves the wrong side of that dreaded dotted relegation line.
The two sides meet in north London on Saturday in what is a huge game for both clubs, whose fans are so fed up they are protesting against their respective owners.
West Ham and Spurs have fans up in arms
The stars are aligning for West Ham as Spurs lose seven key players for the clash with reports Thomas Frank could be sacked if Tottenham lose.
Nuno Espirito Santo returns to his old club and speculation has been rife this week he wanted a West Ham reunion with a defender who loved playing under him at Spurs in Eric Dier.
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How many more signings do we need to make for you to feel confident about staying up?! 🤔
Still an awful lot of work to do…
Many Hammers fans were thinking the season could not get much worse – until reports they were pushing to bring Dier back to London from Monaco.
Dier became something of a figure of fun for rival clubs during his time at Tottenham before moving on to Bayern Munich and then Monaco.
Dier has been offered to West Ham, much to the disbelief of many Hammers supporters who simply don’t rate the ex England centre-back.
The move tallies in many respects with West Ham’s abysmal defensive record and the fact Dier previously worked with Nuno during his ill-fated spell with Spurs in 2021.
Nuno may not have enjoyed a lengthy tenure in north London but he did leave an impression on Dier.
Nuno actually had a good start in charge of Tottenham and was named the Premier League’s Manager of the Month after securing three wins in as many games at the start of his time in charge.
Dier liked what he saw, telling Tottenham’s official website at the time that the now West Ham boss had an immediate impact.
Dier said: “Nuno’s come in and had such a calming influence on the squad. I think he’s really brought a serenity to the group and around the training ground and matchdays. We really needed that.”
Dier snubs West Ham and McCoist thinks they’ve dodged a bullet
It seems having Nuno in charge has counted for little, though.
Because West Ham have been snubbed by ex Spurs star Dier and Ally McCoist thinks they’ve dodged a bullet.
Eric Dier would be the PERFECT January signing for West Ham…😍
Disagree? Tell us why 👇
According to Sky Sports, Dier has rejected a move to West Ham and wants to stay at Monaco – who are not desperate to sell him either.
While missing out on a seasoned international might usually sting, McCoist’s view will strike a chord with most Hammers fans, as he suggests the club may have avoided a deal that carried more risk than reward at this stage.
“I’m going to tell you now, he would not be my first choice or anywhere near my first choice at this moment in time,” McCoist said on talkSPORT.
“There’s no doubt about it, he has been quality (in the past). Of course he has.
“But I don’t know. They need something West Ham, but I’m not sure it’s Eric Dier.”
Football is a game of opinions of course, but what do the statistics say about Dier in recent seasons?
He spent two seasons at Bayern Munich after joining from Tottenham in January 2024, ultimately making nearly 50 competitive appearances and scoring three goals for the Bundesliga champions before departing in summer 2025.
During his time in Munich, he helped the club secure the Bundesliga title, contributing as a centre-back and occasional starter across league and cup matches.
Since joining AS Monaco in 2025/26, Dier has been a regular figure in the Ligue 1 side’s defence, featuring in nine matches and scoring two goals.
Across both clubs, his role has blended defensive solidity with occasional offensive contributions, highlighting his experience and adaptability at top-flight European levels.
The fact West Ham fans were unsure Dier would be a better option than Max Kilman tells you all you need to know about the opinion of the defender in east London.