Roman ruin: Pavlyuchenko has fallen down the pecking order
at Tottenham
Liverpool
have targeted
Tottenham
misfit Roman Pavlyuchenko in
a surprise January move which could see Ryan Babel head in the
opposite direction.
Manager Rafa Benitez knows he desperately needs back-up for
Fernando Torres and has grown increasingly tired of Babel's
displays and murmurings of discontent.
He is a long-time admirer of Pavlyuchenko and believes he can
restore the striker to the scoring form that helped Russia reach
the Euro 2008 semi-finals and prompted Tottenham to splash out
£13.8million just over 15 months ago.
However, due to Liverpool's dire financial situation, Tottenham
hold all the cards in any possible deal. They know Liverpool have a
minimal budget and must wheel and deal to get transfers done.
Babel, an £11.5m signing from Ajax two years ago, represents
Liverpool's biggest bargaining tool and at 22 he has a great
re-sale value. However, Tottenham want optimum price for
Pavlyuchenko and may even ask for Babel plus cash.
Manager Harry Redknapp has other targets in mind and has been
told he must sell before he can buy. He is keen on bringing in
another goalkeeper and centre half and has lined up a deal for
Brazil midfielder Sandro from Internacional, who could cost up to
£8m.
Redknapp knows Babel has potential but may feel it is better for
Tottenham to bring in straight cash for Pavlyuchenko from other
suitors so he can plough the money into his priority purchases.
Pavlyuchenko, who has grown increasingly frustrated with his
plight at Tottenham and has attended several meetings to discuss
his future, will no doubt be delighted about Liverpool's
interest.
He is fourth in the pecking order of strikers at White Hart Lane
behind Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane and has made it
clear he wants away.
Only this week his agent, Oleg Artemov, said: 'We are not happy
about his situation at Tottenham, so we'll do everything to ensure
he can change club in January. There were contacts with Roma, but
for now only by telephone. Spartak Moscow, Arsenal and Zenit St
Petersburg are also interested in the player - anything can
happen.'
Sounding off: Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has grown
increasingly tired of Ryan Babel's murmurings of
discontent
Benitez had considered a move for Pavlyuchenko earlier
in the year but again did not have the necessary resources at the
time. He believes the former Spartak Moscow star can play in the
lone striker role or as a link man between Torres and the Liverpool
midfield if called upon.
He is reluctant to strip his threadbare squad further but
recognises that Babel represents a sacrifice worth making for the
benefit of the squad.
The only saving grace for Benitez would be a successful
Liverpool rights issue as the club attempt to raise £100m in time
for the January window - then the Spaniard would be able to call
his own shots in the transfer market.
Despite glimpses of Babel's potential, he has failed to mature
into the player Benitez hoped he would become and has hinted he
believes a fresh start would help earn a place in Holland's World
Cup squad.
For now, he is taking a diplomatic stance. Babel said: 'I feel
confident that I'm good enough to play a lot of games for
Liverpool. I keep saying this. Hopefully, I'll get chances to show
this. For every player it's nice to go to the World Cup and it's
very important to do that in your career.
'As far as I'm concerned, the way to do that is to fight for my
place at Anfield, definitely.'
