Davinson Sanchez signing could squeeze Eric Dier out at Tottenham... where does the Colombian defender fit in to Mauricio Pochettino's plans?

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Having splashed out a club-record £42million to bring him to the club, Mauricio Pochettino clearly has intentions of finding room for Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez in his Tottenham starting line-up.

But at whose expense? 

Pochettino has enjoyed great success since mirroring Chelsea's 3-4-2-1 system and, having started at Wembley with that shape, looks set to continue with three at the back for the bulk of Tottenham's games this season.

Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez holds a Spurs shirt after his signing was confirmed

Right-footed and with blistering pace, 21-year-old Sanchez has the attributes to slot in perfectly to the right of Toby Alderweireld in the back three once he has settled in.

That squeezes out Eric Dier, who may not be too disheartened by that as he is known to prefer the central midfield role which he previously excelled in under Pochettino.

One problem with that though - well, two - are those immovable objects in Spurs' midfield: Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.

Yes, it was Wanyama's error that led to Chelsea's winner at Wembley last weekend, but Pochettino is a huge fan of the 26-year-old, having prised him from Southampton last summer, where the pair previously worked together. 

Dembele frustrates some with his lack of goals - just 10 in five seasons at Spurs - but it only takes a minute of watching Pochettino's side to see how important his energy and drive are to their style of play. A midfield of Wanyama and Dier would appear pedestrian in comparison and Dier does not bring many more goals (eight in three seasons) than the 30-year-old Belgian.

There is the option of playing all three - reverting to a 4-2-3-1 and pushing Dembele further forward - but that is likely to be reserved for tough away fixtures in the Champions League and would force the manager to leave out one of Sanchez, Alderweireld or Jan Vertonghen.

Eric Dier is known to prefer a midfield role but has been playing in Tottenham's back three

So, whichever way you look at it, Dier's playing time looks as though it will be limited compared to the previous two seasons, where he has emerged as an England fixture.

There is a slight irony in this as the start of the summer saw Dier being chased by Manchester United as a £50m solution to their holding midfield problem - one which has now been solved by the arrival of Nemanja Matic.

Ironic, too, that Dier, with Jordan Henderson injured for most of last season, has become England's senior central midfielder just as his Spurs starting place is thrown into jeopardy.

But while Sanchez and Dembele may possess the pace that Dier lacks, what the Englishman has in abundance are consistency and desire to improve that should see him continue to pose Pochettino a selection headache.

For those reasons, and with time on his side at 23, Dier will fancy eventually pushing one of Wanyama or Dembele out of the XI as his game continues to develop.

Belgian star Mousa Dembele is the driving force in Tottenham's midfield

He certainly needs to step up as with the outstanding young talent of Harry Winks emerging in midfield, this is looking like a make or break year for Dier's Spurs career.

These are exactly the sort of headaches Pochettino has lacked and ones which he needs if he is to win the Premier League and go deep in the Champions League. 

PREFERRED XI

(3-4-2-1): Lloris; Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Trippier, Wanyama, Dembele, Rose; Eriksen, Alli; Kane.

In all probability, Sanchez will come in as the right-sided centre back in Tottenham's 3-4-2-1 system, where Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli support Harry Kane up front. 

FOUR AT THE BACK

(4-2-3-1): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen/Sanchez, Rose/Vertonghen; Wanyama, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane.

Pochettino has shown he is happy to switch to a back four when he feels it necessary, with one of Sanchez, Vertonghen or Danny Rose making way for the extra forward in Son Heung-min. 

MAKING ROOM FOR DIER 

(4-2-3-1): Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dier; Eriksen, Dembele, Alli; Kane.

In a more defensive 4-2-3-1 system that could be used away at European giants, Dembele is pushed in between Eriksen and Alli with Dier coming in to midfield.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has a selection headache after signing Sanchez