Dier warns top-four rivals: Spurs will try & shut you up even without new signings

Eric Dier does not believe Tottenham's top-four rivals are necessarily stronger this season, despite them having made a number of new signings.

Spurs were frustrated in the window as approaches for new faces came to nothing, while the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United all brought in new players.

Dier, though, does not believe that Tottenham's top-four rivals necessarily added more quality than they already had at their disposal, and is relishing trying to "shut up" their opponents in 2018-19.

"You can look at all the other teams around us, they might have signed players but not many of those players that they’ve signed are better than the players they’ve already got," he said.

"Obviously, there are signings that have been made which are players of very high quality but in many cases I don’t believe that they’ve signed players that are better than they already have.

"If it’s your point of trying to create a better atmosphere or give the team a boost then that’s cool but we’ll find the same boost in a different way.

"It’s a great challenge for us - to shut everyone up. We’re going to enjoy that challenge.

"We’ve got a fantastic squad here; fantastic players, throughout the team in every position. To strengthen it is not easy as well.

"The players are really happy, we’ve got a fantastic group here. We all really enjoy training together, playing together, being with each other. We’ll just try to continue to build on that."

Mauricio Pochettino’s side got off to a winning start at St James’ Park against Newcastle on Saturday with many of their top stars – who have secured three consecutive top three league finishes – picking up where they left off last season.

Dier believes it would take a lot to improve the quality that is already on the Spurs books and understands that the club simply cannot compete with the spending power available at other top sides.

"For the last three years we’ve been challenging the best teams in the country,” he said. “And last year we were challenging the best teams in the Champions League with the squad that we have here.

"The manager said it before, we’re in a fight but we’re having to use different tools.

"We’ve known that for the last three years and we have to try and compensate for what other clubs can do in different ways - with our attitude, our work ethic, our desire.

"We have to try and compensate in those ways. That’s what we’ll try to do and it’ll make us better."