Pavlyuchenko has made no secret of his desire to quit White Hart Lane and the former Spartak Moscow star was quoted as saying on Wednesday that a return to Russia was a preference.

Spurs boss Redknapp has maintained that he wants to keep the forward, but he has preferred to select Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe or Peter Crouch this season.

A lack of first-team football has frustrated Pavlyuchenko, whose international credentials have suffered as a result, and a January exit now seems a certainty, although Tottenham are keen to earn a fee close to the £13.8million they paid Spartak.

Zenit St Petersburg have been listed as admirers but, according to Pavlyuchenko's representative, Oliver Wendt, Roma are also interested as they seek firepower to boost a flagging season.

Wendt told romagiallorossa.com: "It is true, yesterday Daniele Prade was in London to better understand the situation of Pavlyuchenko but we don't know the real intentions of the Giallorossi.

"However, the player will surely leave Tottenham as he wanted to leave them this summer.

"It is a feasible piece of business with Roma, but we need to see the needs of the two clubs in question. Roman would be willing to transfer to the Italian capital."