Spurs, chasing fourth, will not let Pavlyuchenko go

Harry Redknapp has apparently ruled out the possibility of selling Roman Pavlyuchenko. The unsettled Russian striker is said to be desperate to leave White Hart Lane, having started just two games this season. Lokomotiv Moscow have been hard on the heels of Pavlyuchenko with a £10.5m deal in the pipeline but Redknapp wants to hang on the player who cost the London club £14m in 2008.

"It's our understanding that the view within Tottenham is split," Lokomotiv president, Nikolai Naumov, is quoted as telling the Daily Mail. "The directors have no objection to selling the player, but the coach wants to keep him till at least the summer. We'll talk about the transfer at the end of the season."

Redknapp wants to have the 28-year-old Pavlyuchenko in reserve during the tail end of the season as Tottenham, currently sixth in the Premier League, chase that elusive fourth place that would see them qualify for the Champions League next season.

Across town at the Emirates there is, for once, no news on Cesc Fabregas's apparently impending departure to Barcelona - perhaps because the Catalan giants are licking their wounds after losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

However, the Gunners are facing up to another bit of bad news, as it is reported that Wolfsburg and Inter Milan are ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign 18-year-old Swiss forward Nassim Ben Khalifa, according to German newspaper Bild.

The youngster, who helped the Swiss Under-17 team win the World Cup last year, could be available for as little as €2.5m as his current club Grasshoppers Zurich are in financial touble.

Wolfsberg are anxious to conclude a deal before the bigger clubs increase their interest say the paper.

The Mirror reports that Redknapp's old club, West Ham, are taking a leaf out of Arsenal's book and targeting the best teenage talent the world has to offer as well. Apparently they are on the verge of making "a sensational" £2m move for Paraguay wonder boy Juan Iturbe. The South American striker plays for Cerro Porteno but is due to arrive in London soon for talks with the Hammers' head honcho David Sullivan. Iturbe will need to be accompanied by an adult on his trip to England as he’s only 16 but the Mirror says that the teenage talent is eager to talk to West Ham, despite interest from Real Madrid and Manchester United. Rated one of the "best talents his country has produced", Iturbe has already starred for the Paraguay Under 21 side.

In other news Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed to the Daily Star that he fancies signing Inter goal-grabber Mario Balotelli. The Sky Blues' manager opened his heart to the Star, telling the paper, “I would take him immediately. Potentially, Mario is a world-class champion." Inter won't be pleased to hear such bullish talk coming from Eastlands, particularly as rumours have been circulating that the 19-year-old striker is keen to leave Inter at the end of this season.

The Daily Mail reports that Derby are chasing Arsena's 18-year-old French forward Gilles Sunu and Everton's James Vaughan, 21, with a view to bringing them to the Pride Park Stadium on loan. "We are still chasing them and would like to add one of the two to our squad," said Derby boss Nigel Clough. "We will pursue it again this week. With Steve Davies out, we are a bit light in the striking department." ·