Tottenham's players want to hang onto defender Michael Dawson.

The former Nottingham Forest centre-half has been the subject of a reported £8 million offer from Sunderland.

"He's been brilliant," said striker Peter Crouch after last weekend's win at Blackburn. "He heads everything, tackles everything, throws himself in.

"I've been back heading my fair share of balls away but Daws does for it the whole game, every game.

"You need his type of player at somewhere like Blackburn because you know he will stand up to it, he'll win his headers, win his tackles and credit to him and the defence for keeping us in the game."