Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has admitted he would not
need to find a replacement to let striker Roman Pavlyuchenko leave
the club.
The Russian forward is behind Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and
Robbie Keane in the pecking order at White Hart Lane.
He has had limited opportunities to impress this season and
is widely expected to move on when the transfer window reopens at
the start of January.
Redknapp has previously insisted that Pavlyuchenko will not
go cheap, but he has now indicated that he is looking to trim his
striking options.
"I never seem to get Pav on the pitch which is hard on him,"
the manager said in the Daily Mirror.
"Technically he is a very good player but when people say
I've got four good strikers I'd rather have just three because of
the problems four cause.
"With four it's too many. Pav is finding it hard to deal with
but what can I do?
"If someone comes in for Pav I wouldn't necessarily look to
replace him."
While Redknapp would like one less striker, he is in the
market for another goalkeeper after losing Carlo Cudicini to a
long-term injury.
And Spartak Moscow are willing to let shot-stopper Stipe
Pletikosa join Spurs in a possible swap deal involving
Pavlyuchenko. No talks have taken place as yet but Spartak sporting
director Dmitri Popov may decide to resurrect his interest in
Pavlyuchenko after missing out on a deal over the summer.
"We made a formal offer for Pavlyuchenko in the summer,"
Popov said in the Daily Mail. "There was a loan-to-buy offer and a
direct offer to buy. But Spurs did not agree and were not happy
with the amount."
Popov added: "We haven't spoken about a swap (for
Pavlyuchenko), but everything depends on Spurs.
"We know Stipe went to England, where Tottenham's doctors
examined his knee. If the Londoners decide they need Pletikosa,
Spartak will not block the deal."
