Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson is rumoured to be close to putting in a transfer request after losing his place in the team at White Hart Lane.

Dawson had been a regular for Spurs in the last few years, but the arrival of Jonathan Woodgate and return to fitness of Ledley King have seen him drop down the pecking order.

With Juande Ramos being linked with a second attempt to sign Espanyol's Daniel Jarque, Dawson is concerned that he could soon be fourth choice centre-half at the club.

Having grown up near Newcastle, Dawson has been strongly linked with a move to St James' Park, with Kevin Keegan targeting him as one of the men he wants to rebuild the team in the summer.

An £8m bid is believed to be lined up, while Dawson waits to see if he can force his way back into the team by the end of the season.