Pavlyuchenko and Benayoun in shock swap deal

• Poignant

  13 May 10, 13:49

  Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun in shock swap deal
  

  

  Turnaround: Roman Pavlyuchenko's (left) fine form in 2010 was in stark contrast to that of his first few months of the season

  Tottenham Hotspur are considering a move for Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun that could see Roman Pavlyuchenko move in the opposite direction.

  Liverpool showed interest in Pavlyuchenko during the winter transfer window and are keen to do a deal, but they are reluctant to meet demands of Benayoun plus £2million for the Russia striker.

  The Merseysiders could find better value in doing a straight cash deal for their Israel midfielder and would hope to raise as much as £10m by exploring interest from Aston Villa, Roma, Sevilla and Dynamo Moscow - as well as Spurs.

  Meanwhile, Lokomotiv Moscow fear that their hopes of signing Pavlyuchenko from Tottenham Hotspur are dead. The Russians came close to clinching a £10m deal for Pavlyuchenko in the winter but believe his return to Harry Redknapp's starting line-up will scupper a renewed attempt to lure him when the transfer window opens.

  'The situation has changed,' said Lokomotiv head coach Yuri Semin. 'I'm afraid it will be difficult to get Pavlyuchenko.

  'His team qualified for the Champions League and he regained the coach's confidence. 'In any case, we can't get hung up on one player. We definitely need one more forward to strengthen the attack.'

  

  Earning his Spurs: Tottenham are considering a move for Yossi Benayoun

  Semin is under pressure after a poor start to the Russian Premier League season for his much-fancied team, who are 12 points behind leaders Zenit St Petersburg after 10 games.

  Lokomotiv also look set to be priced our of a move for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Marat Izmailov, who has attracted interest from Manchester City and Everton since a £5m return to Russia failed in March.

  'Izmailov has a long-term contract with Sporting,' said Semin. 'His club will decide what will be. Figuratively speaking, the ball is in their court.

  'We made a proposal for Izmailov in the spring, but the Portuguese refused. Since then, the situation hasn't changed.'

• zocoss

  13 May 10, 14:39

  Hmmm... Who gets the better deal?

  Benayoun or Pavlyuchenko?

  Liverpool or Spurs?

• dragg

  13 May 10, 14:51

  i think its win win deal.

  benayoun isnt RB's first choice anyway and liverpool badly neednt another striker.

   

• russiabear

  13 May 10, 14:52

  neither. both crappy players.

• HeiHao

  13 May 10, 15:44

  Spurs got a better deal la. Pavlyuchenko shoot bird one.

• stellazio

  13 May 10, 19:12

  But isnt Spurs overloaded with midfielders anyway?

• nature-ones

  13 May 10, 20:38

  maybe they wan to change their formation to 4-5-1

• Poignant

  13 May 10, 21:30

  Rafael is still not learning.

• azzurifizzy

  14 May 10, 10:15

  Haha. The longer Rafa stays, the higher inconsistency Liverpool will show. Of all the strikers, why Roman??? Seriously acquiring someone based on recent form is clearly not good enough.

• dragg

  14 May 10, 11:09

  remember diego forlan?

  flopped at man u but superb at A. Madrid.

   

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  14 May 10, 18:34

  Lolx
  
  
  how about Babel for Pavlyuchenko  
  
  
  rafa is thinking 30yrs old trade for 28 yrs old