Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko wanted by West Ham
03 Nov 2009 - 09:28:59
Gianfranco Zola's side have yet to win at home, and are in the relegation zone, although a win against Villa will take the Hammers out of the bottom three.
Zola is understood to have enquired about the 27-year-old Russian, who is currently out of favour at Spurs having failed to impress in a rare appearance against Everton in the Carling Cup last week.
Related ArticlesSpurs pay for madness at ArsenalSteve Bruce fury over 'play-acting'Police sorry for West Ham football riot actors blunderHowever, any move could depend on the arrival of new investors, a possibility ahead of the January transfer window.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has already ruled out any loan deals involving the striker.
Tottenham want to recoup the £13.8 million they paid Spartak Moscow for Pavlyuchenko in the summer of 2008. Spartak and Zenit St Petersburg are also keen, but value Pavlyuchenko at closer to £10m.
Meanwhile, the hamstring injury suffered by Spurs defender Sebastien Bassong has made him doubtful for Cameroon's important World Cup qualifier against Morocco.
Cameroon have recalled Tottenham left-back Assou-Ekotto but Bassong is set to be out for between four and five weeks.
Cameroon, who top Group A with 10 points from five matches, must beat bottom side Morocco to guarantee a place at the finals in South Africa.
Bassong, meanwhile, has admitted that Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Arsenal was 'the worst day of the season", but that Spurs can still qualify for the Champions League.
"For 42 minutes we played well but in one minute we messed up the whole game," he said. "We slept for both the goals. The first goal was bad enough, the second goal was a disgrace.
"The manager wasn't happy about it and he was right, we defended it badly. We're all so disappointed.
"We need to improve our game and now try to play well against Sunderland. It's important we put this right."
However, Bassong maintains the club's belief that Spurs can finish in the top four, adding: "We have big quality in the squad and if we improve and work hard we can take a top four position.
"We need to keep working and work every day because that game on Saturday showed you can never stop at that level. If you don't work, you are going to be disappointed again and again. To be in the top four, we need more."
