By Greg Stobart
Stoke City are planning a double raid on Tottenham with Tony Pulis ready to launch a bid to sign Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson.
Goal.com has learned that Huddlestone is set to leave Spurs on a season-long loan, while Dawson will be sold should the club receive a bid in excess of £8 million.
Stoke have made their move for both players as Andre Villas-Boas makes his mark on the Spurs squad, with defender Sebastien Bassong also on his way out of White Hart Lane having joined Norwich.
Both Huddlestone and Dawson were left out of the squad for Tottenham’s opening Premier League match against Newcastle on Saturday and Stoke have opened dialogue over moves for both players.
Last year, Potters boss Pulis tied up a double deal to sign Wilson Palacios and Peter Crouch from Spurs and he is hoping for similar success before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
They face stern competition for Dawson’s signature in particular, with QPR expected to make a ‘significant’ bid this week, according to sources close to the situation.
The defender, who has been named Tottenham’s club captain following Ledley King’s retirement, appears to have fallen to the bottom of the pecking order at White Hart Lane behind Younes Kaboul, Gallas, Jan Vertonghen and Steven Caulker.
Huddlestone has fought back from ankle injuries that restricted him to just two league appearances last term, but Villas-Boas believes the midfielder lacks the fitness and mobility to work in his system.
Spurs believe Huddlestone must leave on loan to build his mobility and sharpness but they are not ready to close the door on his future at the club, and are likely to insist on a recall option in January.
With Jermaine Jenas also available for transfer, Scott Parker out of action until October and Luka Modric waiting for his proposed move to Real Madrid, Huddlestone’s departure increases the pressure on Spurs to sign another midfielder this summer.
Villas-Boas has made Porto star Joao Moutinho his first choice to replace Modric and provide creativity in central midfield, but Tottenham have so far been unwilling to meet the Portuguese club’s £30m asking price.