TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR hope to conclude the €15 million purchase of Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow, despite the fact that he would be ineligible to play for them in the whole of their Uefa Cup campaign.

The striker appeared for Spartak two weeks ago in the first leg of the Russian club's Champions League third-round qualifier with Dynamo Kiev, which they lost 4-1 at the Luzhniki Stadium.

He did not play in the return last night, when they bowed out of the competition after another 4-1 defeat, a result that saw them drop into the Uefa Cup, where they will start together with Tottenham in the first round, the draw for which takes place in Monaco tomorrow.

Pavlyuchenko could yet be joined by his Russian team-mate Andrei Arshavin of Zenit St Petersburg, although the clubs are still to agree a free.

Ajax's €25 million asking price for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is thought to be an obstacle if Tottenham pursue a deal for the Holland striker to join them.

Manchester United are hoping to resolve Dimitar Berbatov's protracted transfer from Spurs by arranging the first face-to-face meeting between leading officials from the clubs today.

Meanwhile, Everton have agreed a deal with Red Star Belgrade to sign Ecuador midfielder Segundo Castillo, who will undergo a medical today.

Aston Villa are expected to step up their bid to sign Newcastle's winger James Milner, who yesterday handed in a transfer request. Villa are believed to have had a €11 million bid for the England under-21 player rejected.

Now the midlands club look set to renew their attempts to sign a player who spent the 2005-'06 campaign on loan at Villa Park.

Sunderland yesterday confirmed the signing of West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand for an undisclosed fee, on a four-year deal.