Zenit hit back as Arshavin moves closer to exit

Zenit St Petersburg have raised the stakes in their battle with Andrei Arshavin over his transfer from the club, after they claimed that it would be end of his career if he went on strike.

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Arshavin has made no secret of his desire to leave Zenit in the January transfer window and earlier this month the 27-year-old said: ''If they do not put a realistic price tag on me and let me go, I'll stay at Zenit but only on paper. I do not want to play for them next year - and I won't.''

Arshavin has been linked with Tottenham, where he would link up with national team-mate Roman Pavlyuchenko, but Real Madrid are also believed to be tracking the Russian star.

However, Zenit have now hit back, with president Alexander Dyukov wading into the argument, telling the Daily Mail:

''If Arshavin goes on strike it will be the end of his career in professional footbal. I don't believe he's going to do it.

''We can't just let him go. We must receive proper compensation for him. It was his decision to extend his contract with us last year and he was richly rewarded for it.

''Naturally we are prepared to listen to offers for him, as we have been in the past. But, frankly, the summer's offer from Tottenham was indecent.

''They suggested paying us by instalments for four years. That would be some kind of loan which was unacceptable to us.''

Zenit, who are also battling to keep Anatoly Timoschuk amid interest from Bayern Munich, are determined for their demands to be met.

Coach Dick Advocaat said: "The speculation is not interesting. Arshavin will always have teams that will want him.

"The main question is whether they have the money to pay for his transfer."