Newly appointed Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp will hope to persuade his former club Tottenham to part with centre-back Michael Dawson in the January transfer window.

The England defender was the subject of an offer from QPR in the summer, but he refused to join the west London club and instead remained at Tottenham to try and compete for a place in the first team.

Michael Dawson
Dawson turned down a move to QPR in the summer but may reconsider after Redknapp appointment [Reuters]

Dawson has struggled to gain playing time under Andre Villas-Boas and has made just four substitute appearances in the Premier League this season, with William Gallas, Steven Caulker and Jan Vertonghen the preferred options.

With Villas-Boas clearly favouring alternative options to Dawson, there has been a suggestion that the centre-back may reassess his plans when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.

Sky Sports believes that Dawson will be given the chance to once again link up with Redknapp with whom he has a strong relationship from their time together at White Hart Lane.

Dawson was often called upon to captain the Tottenham side under Redknapp buy was warned by Villas-Boas that he would be fifth choice, once Younes Kaboul returns from injury.

QPR have struggled defensively all season and have already conceded 26 goals as they find themselves planted to the bottom of the table, without a single win and with just four points from 13 games.

Redknapp admitted in a press conference on Monday morning that he would like to bring some players to the club, but revealed that it would more likely be loan deals as there was not much money to spend after the summer.

The former Tottenham manager was asked whether he would attempt to sign Dawson, and while he refused to say whether he was a genuine target, he did speak of his admiration for the defender.

Redknapp said: "Michael Dawson's a top player and was a captain at Tottenham. Transfer speculation is not on my mind at all as I am only thinking of group I have here."