Source: Daily_Mail
Everton set to sign highly-rated English youngster Eric Dier from Sporting Lisbon
Everton are to sign 17-year-old English defender Eric Dier on loan from Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese club have announced.[LNB]The Barclays Premier League outfit have not confirmed the deal but Sporting say the teenager will move to Goodison Park until the end of the season.[LNB]Dier has come through the junior ranks at Sporting after his parents moved to Portugal to work when he was seven.[LNB]Sporting chance: Everton will take Sporting Lisbon and England youngster Eric Dier on trial until the summer[LNB]They have now returned to England but Dier, who has attracted interest from Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal in the past, stayed in Portugal to develop his game and is contracted to Sporting until 2013.[LNB]A statement on the Sporting website read: 'Eric Dier, central defender of the Sporting Lisbon junior team, has joined Everton on loan until June 30, 2011.[LNB]'This is an opportunity for him to grow in a competitive and more demanding environment.'[LNB] One for the future: Sporting Lisbon youngster Dier (back row 3rd L) poses in the new England strip for an Umbro promotion picture[LNB]Dier is 6ft 2in and regarded as a versatile, goalscoring centre-back. He is bilingual and could be eligible for dual English-Portuguese nationality when he turns 18.[LNB] He also has footballing heritage as his grandfather, the late Ted Croker, was secretary of the Football Association from 1973-89 after playing as a defender for Charlton and Kidderminster.[LNB] Dier is Sporting Lisbon's rising star... so why haven't the FA been in touch?Good news for Everton as Anichebe and Coleman sign new deals until 2015All the latest Everton news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:Places: Lisbon, United Kingdom, Portugal Organisations: Football Association
