So another transfer window comes to a close. This unlike many others was surprisingly quiet, mainly due to clubs now having to take into account UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Another reason for the quiet was our gaffer's appearances in court seriously restricting his ability to go on Sky Sports News every five minutes and tell the world which 'top top players' he was looking at.

Amidst all the loan deals away from White Hart Lane yesterday there was one permanent departure and it came in the shape of Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko who has departed for Lokomotiv Moscow for a fee in the region of £7.5m.

It had been an unhappy eighteen months at the Lane for Pav, punctuated by occasional match winning strikes against the likes of Birmingham last season and against Sunderland a few weeks ago, where his solitary goal could yet prove vital in the course of the season.

Tottenham yesterday saw both Roman Pavlyuchenko and Steven Pienaar leave White Hart Lane for Lokomotiv Moscow and Everton respectfully. Both moves do not come as a surprise, in fact if anything, they were both overdue.

After having been linked with a move away from Tottenham for quite some time, Pavyluchenko finally made the switch to Lokomotiv for a reported £8 million.

EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 32 DRAW

Porto v Manchester City

Ajax v Manchester United

Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao

Salzburg v Metalist Kharkiv

Stoke City v Valencia

Rubin Kazan v Olympiacos

AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht

Lazio v Atletico Madrid

Steaua Bucharest v Twente

Viktoria Plzen v Schalke

Wisla Krakow v Standard Liege

Braga v Besiktas

Udinese v PAOK

Trabzonspor v PSV Eindhoven

Hannover v Brugge

Legia Warsaw v Sporting

* First legs to be played February 16, second legs February 23

EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW

FC Salzburg/Metalist v Rubin Kazan/Olympiacos

Legia/Sporting v Porto/Manchester City

Steaua/Twente v Viktoria Plzen/Schalke

Wisla/Standard Liege v Hannover/Brugge

Stoke/Valencia v Trabzonspor/PSV Eindhoven

Alkmaar/Anderlecht v Udinese/PAOK

Lazio/Atletico Madrid v Braga/Besiktas

Ajax/Manchester United v Lokomotiv Moscow/Athletic Bilbao

* First legs to be played March 8, second legs March 15.

By Alan Duffy

It may well be the preserve of Thursday nights and Channel Five, but the Europa League, now ready for the knock-out stages is still peppered with some of Europe's big guns. Probably the biggest in the competition, Manchester United, will face another all-time European great, Ajax, in the last 32, a tie which has more than a hint of glamour.

Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan have both enjoyed individual club success this season, which in turn has led to their teams turning in strong results both domestically and in Europe. All of that will come to a head in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, when their two teams will square off.

It is being reported this morning that the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is looking for his very own Suarez, but not the controversial one playing for Liverpool! The Express says that Arsenal scouts were at the Anderlecht v Lokomotiv Moscow match in the Europa League last night for a look at the 23 year-old Argentinian [.

Anderlecht vs Lokomotiv Moscow 5-3 Highlights 2011 Europa League Video Goals Kljestan Sychev Wasilewski is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Anderlecht vs Lokomotiv Moscow 5-3 Highlights 2011 Europa League Video Goals Kljestan Sychev Wasilewski is a post from Soccer Blogger.

Sacha Kljestan's run of form is turning out to be anything but temporary.

Kljestan continued his strong season for Anderlecht, scoring a goal in the club's 5-3 triumph over Lokomotiv Moscow in their UEFA Europa League battle. His curling effort to the far corner dug Anderlecht out of an early 1-0 deficit and helped the Belgian side win its group, which should make for a more favorable result during Friday's knockout round draw.

The next two days are rather crucial for a number of Americans abroad, as their quests to reach the UEFA Europa League knockout stage come down to the final game of group play.

Clint Dempsey and Fulham control their own destiny and can advance as the second-place team from Group K with a win over Odense BK on Wednesday (3 p.

It seems more and more likely that Roman Pavlyuchenko will be out of the door at Christmas after his agent suggested that a number of offers are on the table for the Russian.

Earlier in the week, Sovietsky Sport were claiming a done deal between Tottenham and Lokomotiv Moscow but the player's representative states otherwise.

Betting sites has tipped Tottenham to take home the silverware, but the odds are now against them even exiting the group stages.

With two weeks until the final matches of the Europa League group stages, 14 clubs have clinched spots in the knockout rounds of the cup with a game to spare. With the eight teams that finish third in their UEFA Champions League groups transferring over to Europe's second-tier competition, that leaves 10 spots.

By FRANCO PANIZO

If Liverpool is to overcome its less-than-stellar start to the season and get back in contention for a Champions League spot, it will have to do so without one of its top players.

Lucas Leiva has been ruled out for the remainder of the Premiership campaign after sustaining a knee injury in Liverpool's 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

As always, here is our collection of the best transfer rumors we found.

Lukas Podolski is being linked with Arsenalas help to keep Robin van Persie around after this season.

Eduardo Vargas' agent has added Arsenal and Liverpool to the names of clubs interestedin the Universidad de Chile winger.

GK: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (NK Maribor), Vid Belec (Crotone) DEF: Miso Brecko (FC Koln), Bostjan Cesar (Chievo), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Matej Mavric Rozic (KSV Superfund), Miral Samardžić (Sheriff Tiraspol), Marko uler (Gent) MID: Armin Bačinovič (Palermo), Josip Iličič (Palermo), Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Rene Krhin (FC Bologna), Dejan Lazarevic (Padova), Darijan Matič (Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Ales Mertelj (NK Maribor), Dare Pass (Olimpija Ljubljana) FOR: Valter Birsa (Genoa), Zlatko Heir.

Slovenia has released its roster for the Nov. 15 game against the U.S. MNT in Ljubljana. The squad of new head coach Slavisa Stojanovic features 10 players who played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Group match against the USA, including goalscorers Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankič. There are also two teammates of Michael Bradley's from Chievo Verona: Bostjan Cesar and Bojan Jokic.

Photo by Joe Toth/ISIphotos.com

Slovenia announced its squad for its Nov. 15 friendly against the United States, and while there are some familiar names on the roster, perhaps the most recognizable one is missing.

Captain and Hull City midfielder Robert Koren will not participate in the match, but the two players who scored for Slovenia against the United States in the 2010 World Cup, Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankič, were called in.

By Chris Wright

Pies' pick of the 15 best photos from last night's Europa League action...

Lokomotiv Moscow's Felipe Caicedo celebrates his injury time goal against AEK Athens as he passes AEK keeper Giannis Arabatzis

The Britannia Stadium sits empty an hour or so before Stoke City kicked off against Maccabi Tel Aviv

Besiktas' Filip Holosko and Dynamo Kiev's Betao gurn away while tussling in the air over Kiev

Birmingham fans decorate the square in the centre of Bruges before kick-off

Standard Liege's Yoni Buyens almost has his face pummelled by Vorskla Poltava goalkeeper Serhiy Dolganskiy

Club Brugge 'keeper Colin Cooseman celebrates his side's early lead against Birmingham, though it didn't last with Brum eventually winning it 2-1 in the 9th minute of injury time

Kenwyne Jones celebrates in customary style after scoring the opening goal for Stoke against Maccabi Tel Aviv

Legia Warszawa's Maciej Rybus gets crumpled in a pile-up with Rapid Bucharest duo Rui Duarte and 'keeper Danut Coman

Tottenham's Danny Rose is fouled on the edge of the box by Rubin Kazan captain Roman Sharonov.

U.S. national team players were heavily involved with action in Europa League on Thursday, and not a single one left with a loss. Goals were scored, assists made, and a long-awaited return to action finally took place.
Jozy Altidore continued to light the lamp, scoring his side's lone goal as AZ drew 1-1 at FC Metalist Kharkiv.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jermaine Jones' struggles for playing time at Schalke 04 have been alleviated somewhat, as Jones made his first appearance for the club in nearly two months on Thursday.

Having last played for Schalke on Aug. 6, Jones came off the bench in the 76th minute of Schalke's Europa League match against Maccabi Haifa to help the club preserve its 2-1 lead.

By FRANCO PANIZO

The quest for European glory continues for several Americans Abroad on Thursday, as the second round of Group Stage games in the Europa League gets underway.

After drawing last week, Clint Dempsey will look to help Fulham get its first win in Group K when the Cottagers take on Odense BK.

Even the Daily Mail had to be pleasant about Spurs in the wake of our 4-0 win over Liverpool at the weekend and this morning the paper has started a story linking the club to a move for Swiss goal keeper Eldin Jakupovic.

Jakupovic currently plays his football in Greece but after his side Olympiakos Volos were relegated to the lower tiers of national football following match fixing allegations, all of their players have become available on free transfers.

Hibernian striker Garry O' Connor (28) was in hiding last night after the 16 times capped Scottish striker was accused of failing a drugs test in 2009/10 while playing for Birmingham City in the Premier League.

And to add insult to injury it is alleged that O'Connor was also charged with fraud after his £100,000 Ferrari was mysteriously found crashed a few short miles from his home a few months ago.

The Russian Premier League title race became more interesting this weekend following two major games involving four of the top six teams. In a capital derby Dinamo Moscow shocked their hosts CSKA Moscow by hitting four goals without reply whilst defending champions Zenit Saint Petersburg also had four put past them in a 4-2 defeat at Lokomotiv Moscow.

The draw for the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League group stage was made in Monaco today. 2009 winners Atlético de Madrid are arguably the biggest club involved in this season's competition and they will have been relatively pleased with a draw which placed them in Group I alongside Italian Champions League drop-outs Udinese Calcio, French side Stade Rennais and Swiss side FC Sion.

Lokomotiv Moscow (also known as FC Lokomotiv Moskva, Russian: Футбольный клуб "Локомотив" Москва) is a Russian soccer club based in Moscow. Lokomotiv Moscow is currently campaigning in the Russian Premier League and has two league titles and a record five Russian Cup wins to its credit.

Lokomotiv Moscow (also known as FC Lokomotiv Moskva, Russian: Футбольный клуб "Локомотив" Москва) is a Russian soccer club based in Moscow. Lokomotiv Moscow is currently campaigning in the Russian Premier League and has two league titles and a record five Russian Cup wins to its credit.

Anderlecht has confirmed their interest in signing Liverpool's Milan Jovanovic - if they can agree personal terms with the Serbian forward.
"We're currently negotiating with Jovanovic, but we couldn't achieve an agreement (yet)," a spokesman for the Belgian side told BBC Sport.
"We're very much interested and the player would like to come.

After Spurs completed the signing of Souleymane Coulibaly, the rumour mills continued to link the club with young players from across Europe.

Whether this is a significant shift in our transfer policy or not, some of these names are definitely interesting and Alan Gatagov is one who could make an impact in the Premiership.

Liverpool target Danny Ings has emerged as the subject of a surprise summer transfer bid from Russian based club Lokomotiv Moscow according to talkSPORT.
The highly rated Bournemouth starlet has been earning rave reviews for his performances on the south coast last season, capturing the interest of a number of Barclays Premier League clubs.

Lokomotiv Moscow line up shock move for Bournemouth striker

Russian club are ready to rival Liverpool and Newcastle for Danny Ings' signature

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-07-11 13:35:04 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

My name is Sam Allardycias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

...and for my next trick FC Basel will take Radoslav Kovac from this club and actually pay money for the privilege. You read that correctly. Radoslav Kovac is off to Switzerland and it's not to join Dignitas.

Odds are not even someone who's logged over 1,000 hours on "Championship Manager," owns a different soccer shirt for every day of the month, or rearranges their schedule around live game action from around the globe -- aka a genuine soccer nerd -- raised an eyebrow when then-West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto di Matteo signed Peter Odemwingie in August from Lokomotiv Moscow for a little under

Lokomotiv Moscow (also known as FC Lokomotiv Moskva, Russian: Футбольный клуб "Локомотив" Москва) is a Russian soccer club based in Moscow. Lokomotiv Moscow is currently campaigning in the Russian Premier League and has two league titles and a record five Russian Cup wins to its credit.

Lokomotiv Moscow (also known as FC Lokomotiv Moskva, Russian: Футбольный клуб "Локомотив" Москва) is a Russian soccer club based in Moscow. Lokomotiv Moscow is currently campaigning in the Russian Premier League and has two league titles and a record five Russian Cup wins to its credit.