Birmingham City will have to decide quickly if they are going to challenge Spartak Moscow for Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko. The Russians have made a £9.5 million offer for the striker who has come strongly into Alex McLeish's reckoning during the past few days, reports the Birmingham Mail.

Spurs want to draw a line under his stay at White Hart Lane and sources indicate that the 28-year-old would be prepared to entertain Blues.

McLeish, who was promised up to £40 million to spend during the January transfer window, now has to get the go-ahead from Carson Yeung and the Blues board to make a counter bid.