Defender deal hits snag

Sunderland are ready to try and gazump QPR's move for Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, but R's boss Mark Hughes remains favourite.

The centre half had been close to agreeing a move across London after the two sides agreed a fee that could rise to £10m, but the deal apparently hit a snag on Wednesday night giving other interested parties and opportunity to step in. Sunderland and Stoke are two clubs that would like to move for Dawson, but its is unlikely that they will be able to match the sort of wages that Hughes will be able to offer at Loftus Road and a deal is still expected to go through before the weekend. Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas axed Dawson from his match-day squad ahead of Saturday's loss to Newcastle, casting huge doubt over the England internationals future at White Hart Lane and triggering the transfer.