Pavlyuchenko's agent says striker wants to stay at Spurs

MOSCOW, June 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russian international Roman Pavlyuchenko wants to remain at Tottenham Hotspur, the striker's agent has said.

Oleg Artyemov also denied that he had informed the British tabloid the Daily Mirror that he was searching for a new club for his client.

"It was with surprise that I discovered all this fuss in the Internet about an interview I supposedly gave to The Daily Mirror. In fact this is a loose translation of my words, taken out of context," he told Sovetski Sport.

"I am in fact looking for new employment opportunities for Roman," he went on. "However, this is the everyday work of any agent - to seek out the best conditions for a player. Both Roma and Stuttgart have made certain preliminary steps, although matters have not yet come to offers or talks."

"Roman himself would like to stay in London and try to prove that he can be very useful for Tottenham."

Recent reports in the British media have suggested that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is looking to sell the Russian international in the close season.

However, Pavlyuchenko said in late May that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was relying on him "to score 20" next season.

Pavlyuchenko has scored 14 times for Tottenham since signing from Spartak Moscow last August. The majority of these goals came in the Carling Cup.

The striker was the first in what could become an influx of Russian players into the English Premier League.

Although Pavlyuchenko struggled in his first season in England, Russia captain Andrei Arshavin made an immediate impact after signing for Arsenal in February, netting six goals in 12 league games, including four when the Gunners drew 4-4 with Liverpool at Anfield.

This summer, CSKA Moscow's Yury Zhirkov has been frequently linked with Chelsea, while his club colleague Sergei Ignashevich is reportedly a target for Everton.

However, CSKA denied media reports quoting president Yevgeny Giner as saying the club had received an offer for the central defender.