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Roman Pavlyuchenko has demanded to leave Tottenham after claiming Harry Redknapp has frozen him out at White Hart Lane and jeopardised his chances of playing in the World Cup.
The 27-year-old striker, who was signed from Spartak Moscow by former Spurs boss Juande Ramos for £14million in August 2008, has yet to start a Premier League game this season after falling behind Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch in the pecking order.
Pavlyuchenko insists Redknapp has not spoken to him about the situation but, with the transfer window open in January, he will now seek urgent showdown talks as he looks to regain his starting place in Guus Hiddink's Russia team.
"I want to leave the club," said Pavlyuchenko. "It is impossible to remain there under the circumstances I find myself in.
"I have been sitting on the subs' bench for half a year and as a result lost my place in the starting XI of the national team.
"And now, hopefully, we will get to the World Cup - who will rely on a forward who does not play? I want to play and not just warm the bench."
Russia face Slovenia on Saturday and next Wednesday in a two-legged play-off as they aim to reach next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa. Pavlyuchenko has started only one of his country's last five matches and fears his international place is now under threat.
"Immediately after the games with Slovenia, my agent and I are flying to London for purposeful negotiations and I want to take part in them personally," Pavlyuchenko said.
"I will ask the management to quote a reasonable price for me. Our manager Harry Redknapp does not talk to me on the matter. At the start of the season our manager said that four forwards is exactly the optimal number, but now he states that three is enough.
"And I am the fourth one so it is obvious that I should part with the club. The only thing that can stand in the way is an unmanageable price. But I will insist on leaving.
"The important thing now is to reach a compromise that will suit the club and me, and my future club.” The striker, who was talking to Russia's Sport Express newspaper, attracted an enquiry from West Ham earlier this month despite making only six appearances for Tottenham this season.
However, any move will depend on new investors bringing in fresh funds to Upton Park as Redknapp is likely to be against any loan deal to his former club.
The Spurs boss yesterday got a closer look at Victor Moses as the club line up a £5million move for the Crystal Palace wonderkid in the January transfer window.
The 18-year-old striker featured for Palace in a behind-closed-doors game at Spurs' training ground, which the hosts won 7-1.
Palace owner Simon Jordan could have to sell one of his major assets in January to cover the mounting costs at Selhurst Park — with promising Moses, winger Sean Scannell and midfielder Nathaniel Clyne his most lucrative options.
Reader views (4)
He has made numerous mistakes harry redknapp not only about this incident to do with Pav but also letting Darren Bent got to Sunderland. Look at him at Sunderland now banging in goals he should have scored against his former club only for Gomes to deny him from the penalty spot. Bent will at least score 15 goals this season hes on 8 already maybe he will score more than 15 who knows what happens in the future. I do think Redknapp was wrong to sell him because I think hes a better player than Crouch. Bent has proved to Steve Bruce the Sunderland manager that he can play instead of being a flop. Pav is in the same position like Darren Bent was in last season when he was constantly on the bench doing no favours for club nor country. Of course if the player doesnt play week in week out for club he aint going to be picked for his country even tho the player is mediocre good or brilliant. Harry Redknapp has made a huge mistake letting Bent go I think hes on the verge of doing the same again with Pav ruining his International career of course the guy would want to leave if hes constantly on the bench 24/7 hardly ever featuring in any game to prove that hes a good player to manager and coach. I really do feel for Pav like I did for Darren Bent. Harry isnt doing any favours by always having Pav on the bench and never featuring in any game. He surely aint going to resurrect his international career when hes on the bench doing absolutely nothing.
- Seb Frank, bromley, 12/11/2009 02:46
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I have to say Pav is a very good prospect but it doesnt help the team one ioyta that hes on the bench and only playing cup football instead of games in the Premier League. He should at least be playing a game a week maybe not all the time but more than he has done. I feel for the guy because he is a good prospect and a good player when on form. I personally would have preferred to have brought Andrei Arshavin but instead he went to scummy Arsenal. Like Adrian said Crouch I think was a waste of money yes but what do you expect from Harry Houdini Redknapp of course he is going to buy the players he used to coach and manage at Pompey. In Defoe, Crouch Kranjcar etc. Kranjcar was a bargain in comparison to Crouch who cost us 9.million we could have brought a defender and possibly another left sided midfielder. Of course Harry is going to favour more Defoe than Pav even tho Defoe was suspended for 3 games because Defoe is a much better player than Pavlyuchenko. I fear for Pav that his days in a Spurs shirt are numebered and also wrecking his international career at a club where he doesnt play week in week out for club I feel for the guy more than anything. He is a good player and I cannot understand why he isnt played more often. So I really do think its time for Pav to move on and seek first team football else where he will play week in week out for his new club. Seeking obviously a team back in his home country would do himself a favour than at spurs since he speaks russian.
- Seb Frank, bromley, 12/11/2009 02:33
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Didn't cut the mustard, wouldn't learn the language, wasn't interested. This guy was given a game recently and looked as if he was in a straight jacket.
Harry get your money for him and strengthen the midfield and defence.
To think that Arshavin cost less. There's no comparison and there's no point in saying he hasn't had his chances. He has had, but he couldn't hit a barn door.
- Paddy M, London, 11/11/2009 16:29
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Shame, such a quality player as well, its seems Harry doesn't like quality players and keeps them for the Carling Cup and then plays the big players, We have Dos Santos, Pav, but they are International players who start for their countries, then we have Crocuh who couldn't buy his way into any team...Sorry we have gone backwards, Pav is a better player than Crouch, Crouch was a waste of money and could of bought a left sided player, central midfield and defender, he spends 8 million on 1 player who couldn't get in the 1st team at Man Utd, Chelsea or even Liverpool...
Harry's man management is bad, he never do well with Crouch in the team, what does this guy bring to Spurs?
We have 5 coaches, shame the team hasn't really improved, Harry we have a good squad mate and but some players are not performing and need to rest some, bring the likes of Pav and Dos Santos.
How can a manager who lost a player for 3 games (who got himself sent off) and puts him back into the team?
Now we know why Roman wants to leave.
Defoe let the club down and got back into the team, what kind of logic is that?
sorry it seems to be alot of favouritism, but our squad and team kind of predictable , shame done well but we need to be using our squad..
- Adrian, London, 11/11/2009 14:50
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