Tottenham Hotspur to step up hunt for centre-back?

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas will make signing a new central defender a priority after Michael Dawson succumbed to injury, according to a report.

The Metro claims that the North London club will step up their search as they resorted to a makeshift partnership of midfielder Jake Livermore and youngster Zeki Fryers at the heart of their backline against Monaco in a pre-season friendly.

Dawson is the latest in a line of centre-backs to pick up an injury after Jan Vertonghen hurt his ankle against Sunderland in Hong Kong and Younes Kaboul is battling to be fit for Tottenham's first Premier League game against Crystal Palace on August 18.

Their defensive woes were exacerbated by the sale of England international Steven Caulker, who joined Cardiff City in order to play regular first-team football.