Germany Forward Confirms Tottenham Approach

Lazio striker Miroslav Klose has revealed he turned down a move to Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window. The Germany international said Andre Villas-Boas' side were interested in his services this season but insisted he intended to honour his contract with the Serie A club, which runs for two more years.

"Tottenham came looking for me, but I signed for Lazio until 2014 and I intend to respect that contract," the Daily Mirror quoted the forward as saying.

Klose moved to Rome from Bayern Munich last summer and has scored 19 goals in 38 appearances for the Italian side so far. The 34 year old is Germany's second-highest all-time goal scorer, with 68 goals, just four behind the legendary Gerd Muller.

The Poland-born striker is also the only player to have scored at least four goals in three World Cups and need just one more strike to equal Brazilian legend Ronaldo's record tally of 15 goals in the competition.

Spurs welcome Lazio to White Hart Lane on 20 September for a Europa League group-stage fixture.

Dawson to Fight for his Place

Tottenham centre back Michael Dawson has stated he is happy at the north London club and is ready to fight for his place in the first team.

The 28 year old was expected to leave White Hart Lane this summer after manager Villas-Boas revealed the defender did not feature in his plans. Dawson was even close to completing a switch to London rivals Queens Park Rangers but the move broke down over personal terms. However, when defender Younes Kaboul was sidelined for four months following knee surgery, Villas-Boas took Dawson off the transfer list and the defender is now keen to re-establish himself in the starting line-up.

"I wanted to stay and fight for my place, as simple as that. Everyone knows it, the manager knows it, I've been at Tottenham for seven-and-a-half years, it's where I love playing my football and I want to be back playing," talkSport quoted the defender as saying

Dawson will be hoping for a place in the squad when Tottenham take on Reading at the Madejski stadium on 16 September.