Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is a target for Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.

The Mirror says Benitez has sounded out advisors for Spurs forward Pavlyuchenko, who indicated yesterday that he will press to leave the London club in January after failing to gain a regular first team place.

Benitez sees him as the ideal stand in for Torres, and given his international pedigree he could do a job for Liverpool to put him into the spotlight before the World Cup gets underway next summer.

Pavlyuchenko has admitted he is desperate to leave Tottenham because six months on the bench has cost him his place in the Russian team.

Asked if he was planning to leave in January, the striker said: "Yes, because it's impossible for me to stay in the present situation.

"I've been sitting on the bench for half a year now and because of that I've lost my place on the national team."