Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs outcast Pavlyuchenko set for Zenit as Russians line up boss Spalletti
Zenit St Petersburg are set to appoint former Roma boss Luciano Spalletti as their new manager after clinching a place in next season's Champions League.[LNB]The Italian's first job will be to rubber-stamp a move for unsettled Tottenham Hotspur striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.[LNB]Spalletti is understood to have agreed a deal in principle to take charge at the Russian club on the condition that they qualified for a place Europe's top club competition.[LNB] Unsettled: Roman Pavlyuchenko[LNB]A two-year deal is said to be worth a staggering £75,000 a week after tax, making him one of the highest paid coaches in the world, though interest from the Italian national team could yet scupper his appointment.[LNB]The 50-year-old would earn around a third of his proposed Zenit salary by taking over from Marcello Lippi after next summer's World Cup, but the lure of his country may be too much to turn down.[LNB]Zenit finished third, taking the final Champions League spot in the Russian League on Sunday, with a 2-1 victory over Spartak Moscow in their final League match of the season.[LNB]The club are set to rebuild the side and are in desperate need of strikers.[LNB]Pavlyuchenko, who is keen on a return to Russia, is top of their wish list, but Zenit are reluctant to pay more than £10million for a player rated at closer to £15m by Spurs.[LNB]Zenit sporting director Igor Korneev is waiting for the new coach to sanction a bid for Pavlyuchenko, which seems certain given that Spalletti tried to sign the 27-year-old for Roma in the summer.[LNB]The Russia striker reiterated his desire at the weekend put a catastrophic 2009 behind him by leaving Spurs in January.[LNB]Meanwhile, Pavlyuchenko has rubbished reports that he had a bust-upwith Arsenal striker Andrey Arshavin before Russia's defeat by Sloveniaearlier this month.[LNB] Zenit target: Luciano Spalletti[LNB]A Moscow newspaper claimed that Pavlyuchenko told his captain to 'shut up' during a team talk.[LNB]Arshavin has already denied accusations levelled against him and Pavlyuchenko said: 'It's complete nonsense.[LNB]No rift: Russia captain Andrey Arshavin (centre)[LNB]'All this in the press is monstrous dirt, invented by an unknown person.[LNB]'Someone without any scrap of conscience is deceiving the whole country.[LNB]'All of the players were united by a common purpose and we trust each other. Yes, in the last game we failed, but that's no reason to invent a fairy-tale.'[LNB]Russia missed out at a place at the World Cup finals after drawing with Slovenia 2-2 on aggregate in the play-off, going out on away goals.[LNB]Questions have been raised in the Russian Duma over allegations that Russia threw the second leg, won by Slovenia 1-0 in Maribor.[LNB]'Yes, we have good politicians,' Pavlyuchenko said sarcastically.[LNB]'I can offer only one thing: let this man come to the team and offer his absurdities, to look into the eyes of those he considers scoundrals and say these accusations. I'm confident that he doesn't have enough courage.'[LNB]Meanwhile, Pavlyuchenko's representative in Italy, Oliver Wendt says he will hold talks Roma over a move to the Serie A team.[LNB]However, the Italians will have to reassess plans they had in the summer to take Pavlyuchenko on loan. A short-term deal is not acceptable to either Spurs nor the 27-year-old.[LNB]Pavlyuchenko has also said he is not keen on adjusting to yet another new country, but Wendt said: 'Roman wants to leave London and he want to go to Roma. It all depends on the meeting that we'll have with the club. [LNB]'I had contact with the Roma directors last week and they showed that they are interested.'[LNB]Spartak Moscow would also be keen on a player they sold for £13.8million after Euro 2008, while Liverpool, Fulham, Birmingham City and West Ham United have all been linked with him.[LNB] Bassong: I would rather Spurs finish fourth than win a trophy this seasonMacheda and Welbeck set to lead Manchester United attack against SpursTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
