The fermi linearization scheme for a two-site cluster (dimer) is applied to the extended Hubbard model, including Coulomb interaction between nearest neighbour sites. The partition function and the order parameter, as well as the average double-occupation and local magnetic moment are evaluated. The theory is checked by extended numerical analysis, performed here in the homogeneous case, when pairing is zero, and deriving the explicit temperature and filling dependence of the above quantities. An interesting feature that emerges from such calculations is that the mean-field parameter characteristic of fermi-linearization is capable of describing two different phases, one of which is not present in the conventional Hubbard model. The order parameters corresponding to the two phases are explicitly derived. The novel phase can be ascribed to the n.n. Coulomb interaction, the role of whose strength V is analysed.