Arshavin may move in January

Agent expects Russian to leave when window reopens

By James Appell   Last updated: 2nd September 2008

Andrei Arshavin Russia Zenit St Petersburg

Arshavin: Linked with January move

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Andrei Arshavin's agent remains adamant that the player will move to England this season, even though the player will stay in Russia at least until January.

Despite the summer-long speculation linking the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker with a move to Tottenham, no deal could be brokered before the summer transfer window slammed shut on Monday evening.

However, Arshavin's representative Dennis Lachter is confident that a deal could be concluded that would bring Arshavin to England in the January transfer window.

"The Zenit president Aleksandr Dyukov contacted me and informed me that Andrei would be staying at the St Petersburg club," Lachter explained to Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport.

"But Dyukov said that if Tottenham continue to show an interest in buying Arshavin, then we will be able to return to the issue in January of next year, when the winter transfer window opens."

Explanation

Lachter also explained why Tottenham and Zenit failed to reach an agreement on Arshavin's transfer during the summer.

"The reasons for the total refusal to sell the footballer were the following: Zenit would not allow the transfer fee for Arshavin to be paid over a number of years.

"Plus, Tottenham decided to make a renewed attempt to buy Andrei too late, at the very end of the Russian transfer window. So if the St Petersburg club had sold the forward, they would have had no time to replace him."

One bright spot for the player is that he will remain in the spotlight for the next few months.

Arshavin will have the opportunity to impress on the big stage as Zenit St Petersburg will begin their maiden UEFA Champions League campaign in September, with Arshavin expected to play a key role.