Date:28/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/28/stories/2008082857202000.htm

Sport - Football

Pavlyuchenko set to join Tottenham

LONDON: Tottenham may be about to bolster its depleted attack by signing Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow after the Russia striker said he is set to join the Premier League club.

The reluctant sale of Robbie Keane to Liverpool and a lengthy impasse over Dimitar Berbatov’s likely transfer to Manchester United left Tottenham with only Darren Bent upfront for its opening two Premier League matches.

Need for striker

A pair of defeats and Bent’s difficulty in adapting to the lone forward role has increased Tottenham’s need to sign a new striker.

Pavlyuchenko has been linked with Spurs since scoring three goals in Russia’s surprise run to the European Championship semifinals and could now be about to move.

According to Wednesday’s edition of Moscow-based sports daily Sovetsky Sport, Pavlyuchenko returned to Moscow from Kiev on Tuesday for talks with Tottenham officials.

“Tottenham has already made a formal proposal,” Spartak chairman Valery Karpin was quoted as saying by Sovetsky Sport.

“They have made us a firm offer and we are happy with it.” — AP