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Pavlyuchenko set for Spurs switch

Posted August 27, 2008 09:49:00

Roman Pavlyuchenko is poised to join English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur from Spartak Moscow, the Russian striker said this morning (AEST).

"I can confirm I'm joining (Spurs)," he told told local media.

"Right now I'm getting my visa and as soon as it is ready I will fly to England to sign a contract."

Pavlyuchenko said he would not play for Spartak against Dynamo Kiev in Wednesday's Champions League third qualifying round second leg.

The Russians trail 4-1 from the opening match.

"I won't play in Kiev," he said. "Everything has happened very quickly so I couldn't even say goodbye to my team-mates."

The 26-year-old was Russia's top scorer at Euro 2008 with three goals as he helped his country reach the semi-finals, their best showing at a major championship in 20 years.

Pavlyuchenko also scored twice in a 2-1 win over England in a qualifying match in October.

Tottenham's attempt to sign Andrei Arshavin fell through last week when a bid for Russia's talented playmaker was rejected by UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg.

The English League Cup-holders are desperate to sign a striker, having sold Ireland's Robbie Keane to Liverpool in the close season and with Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.

Spurs have started the season poorly, losing their opening two Premier League matches to Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

-Reuters

Tags: sport, football, english-premier-league, russian-federation, united-kingdom, england

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