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IS ZENIT THE NEXT TURN IN PAVLYUCHENKO SAGA?
As per English media outlet, "The Guardian",
Zenit Saint Petersburg is reputedly making a final run for striker Roman
Pavlyuchenko, who is anxious to leave English Premier League side Tottenham.
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Roman Pavlyuchenko Photo SPORT EXPRESS
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Though such an attempt should come as no surprise, given
Zenit's need for a premier striker in new manager's Luciano Spalletti
preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, it furthers a domino effect of Roman Pavlyuchenko's
return to Russia, since complicated with Dynamo Moscow's signing of Andriy
Voronin from Liverpool.
The arrival of the well-travelled Ukrainian striker, Voronin, to Dynamo,
was a rogue addition to the winter transfer season that has sent ripples
throughout the transfer moves in Russian football. Voronin's signing also
signalled Alexandr Kerzhakov's departure from the 'White-Blues'. The twenty-seven
year-old Russian international, whose contract expires next February,
has been widely accepted as most likely to return to Zenit Saint Petersburg
where his professional career began, though he is also rumoured to have
received interest from Lokomotiv as well as Liverpool and Hamburg.
However, the chess pieces in this grand match keep moving, as should Zenit
land Roman Pavlyuchenko, quite obviously Alexandr Kerzhakov's return to
his boyhood club will not materialize and Lokomotiv supporters will now
wonder if this sets the stage for a spot in Yuriy Semin's line-up.
Presuming Zenit are successful in their apparent efforts, this obviously
throws a wrench into Spartak Moscow's efforts to lure their former striker,
Roman Pavlyuchenko, back to the Krasno-belye. Naturally, Spartak's immediate
consideration is whether they will bump their offer or call Zenit's bluff
and see if they can make a last gasp acquisition.
All this makes for a very murky set of scenarios, each dependent upon
one another and highly speculative in nature. Making the matter even more
complicated, should Tottenham receive improved bids for Roman Pavlyuchenko
from non-Russian sides, with Roma, Sporting and Valencia rumoured to be
interested, the entire series of possible moves is up in the air.
What is clear is that Tottenham, are walking a thin financial line and
have set firm guidelines that manager Harry Redknapp must manage a positive
balance in the transfer market. Tottenham, pushing for a berth in European
football, are hopeful to generate upwards of ?11.25 million from the sale
of the striker but unwilling to entertain a loan situation as funds will
be used for acquisitions.
Like any transfer rumour, the measure of accuracy will be answered in
time. Yet the ongoing 'Pavlyuchenko saga' creates a domino effect that
will have a significant impact upon a number of opening day line-ups.
Prepared by John Davies
Sport
Express Daily, 14 Jan 2010
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