Roman's road leads to Lane

Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko has claimed: "I am joining Spurs."

The 26-year-old insisted on Tuesday night he was on his way to Tottenham after a verbal agreement was reached between the north Londoners and his club Spartak Moscow.

"I can confirm that I am joining Spurs," he said.

"Right now I am getting my visa. As soon as it is ready I will fly to London to sign a contract."

Pavlyuchenko, who impressed in Russia's run to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 over the summer, claimed he will not feature in Spartak's Champions League third-round qualifier against Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night as he ties up his switch to England.

He added: "I will not play in Kiev. Everything has happened very quickly so I could not even say goodbye to my team-mates."

Pavlyuchenko revealed any reservations he held about the switch to White Hart Lane had faded.

"The only thing that stopped me from leaving was my family," he said. "But now all doubts are behind me and I decided to sign a contract with Tottenham and the formalities are practically settled."

Spartak's general manager Valery Karpin admitted Spurs' offer had been accepted by the Russian club.

"There is a concrete sum which Tottenham proposed and we have agreed the amount," he told the Soviet Sport newspaper. "If Roman will agree a contract then we are ready to let go him go. If Roman begins to play in England, this will be good both for him and for the team."