No Zenit deal for Pavlyuchenko, says agent

Roman Pavlyuchenko's agent Oleg Artemov has insisted that reports in Russia that his client has already signed a contract with Zenit St Petersburg are premature.

The club are interested in signing the former Spartak Moscow striker this winter, but they could face competition from AC Milan.

Fulham have also been linked with a move for the out-of-favour Tottenham striker.

Pavlyuchenko is currently on international duty with Russia but is struggling to shake off a cold.

The 27-year-old has played less than 30 minutes of Premier League football for Tottenham this season.

He has also been suffering with an Achilles injury and started on the bench for Russia's defeat by Germany last weekend.

But he hopes to play against Azerbaijan in their final qualifier despite suffering a muscle problem on the plastic pitch in Moscow.

"I will fly with the team to Baku and hope to play, but a final decision will be made later on today," said Pavlyuchenko.

"It seems I have lost the habit of playing on synthetics - the pains in my muscles told me that after Saturday's match.

"The match between Azerbaijan and Russia will be one of the games of the year. We have already secured second place, but that means nothing. We go to Baku for victory."