Roman Pavlyuchenko (thisislondon)

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham Hotspur striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has revealed that he is seeking a January exit from White Hart Lane.

The Russian has slipped down the pecking order in north London and is concerned about the negative effect his lack of playing time might have on his chances of making next summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

“I want to leave the club,” he said.

“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 a place in the starting 11 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.

“Immediately after the [playoff] games with Slovenia, my agent and I are flying to London for purposeful negotiations and I want to take part in them personally.”

Pavlyuchenko joined Spurs from Spartak Moscow in 2008 on a five-year deal reportedly worth £14 million.

He has never cemented his place in Harry Redknapp’s starting line-up though and now wants to find a club where he can play regular football.

“I will ask the management to quote a reasonable price for me,” he added.

“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 be suitable for the club and me, and my future club.”

Zenit St Petersburg have been rumoured to be interested in bringing the striker back to his homeland.