Scouting Report - £4.2m Chelsea Target Eric Dier

The usual route for a professional footballer is to start at your home town club as a youngster, perhaps progress to a bigger club in your area, before moving to a huge club somewhere in the same country. However, Chelsea's latest target, if you believe the Daily Mail, went about it a very different way. But who is he?

Eric Dier is his name, and some of you may have seen him play for the England U21 side.

Born in Cheltenham, Dier and his family moved to Portugal when he was just 10 years old and he quickly joined the youth ranks of Sporting Lisbon. He sparkled in the academy and, after a brief loan spell at Everton, he progressed through the ranks and played his first competitive football for the Portuguese side.

Versatility is something Dier is blessed with. He can operate as a central defender, a full-back or defensive midfielder, although his stature and his efficiency in the tackle means he is suited to the former, in my opinion.

Tottenham and Fulham are said to be interested in the young defender, who has a £4.2m buy-out clause in his contract, but Chelsea are said to be favourites to secure a deal.

He has represented England from U18 right through to the U21, and as he is still only 19 there is a good chance he will get a chance in the senior squad.

An old head on young shoulders, if you enjoy a cliché.