Spurs beat Rangers to sign Brown

Neil Warnock, the Sheffield United manager, has confirmed that Tottenham had to beat off strong competition from Rangers to capture Michael Brown.

Spurs will sign Brown when the transfer window reopens on New Year's Day having reached an agreement with the Blades for the player.

The midfielder had also been linked with a move to Glasgow and Warnock said: "Rangers made him a fantastic offer but I think the lure of the Premiership swayed him. He's been dying to play at a higher level and we couldn't stand in his way really."

Brown impressed several times against top-flight opposition last season as the Blades progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Warnock believes that experience will stand the 26-year-old in good stead and that Tottenham have made an astute signing. "I think he's the type that Spurs need now, and one or two others for that matter - I'm surprised that none of the big clubs came in for him," added Warnock.

"He's got a very good engine, he's at a good age, he's had plenty of experience, and he can score goals. The three games where he excelled last year were against Liverpool twice and Arsenal."