Roman Pavlyuchenko Poses a Transfer Dilemma for Harry Redknapp

Tottenham have a realistic chance of finishing in the top four of the Premier League this season - despite their defeat to Arsenal in the north London derby last weekend. But if they are to do it, their manager Harry Redknapp needs to maintain them on course by keeping his strike force happy.

Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch have all been in excellent form for Spurs during the start to this campaign, and together they have scored 19 goals. Defoe, in particular, has thrived since his return to White Hart Lane from Portsmouth.

It is probably no coincidence that Tottenham's form tends to slump when the England striker is sitting on the sidelines with an injury or due to a suspension. Defoe's absence has thrown the door open for Crouch to partner Keane and the two are beginning to form a partnership which will no doubt bring more goals.

Yet there is a player missing from this set-up, someone who could throw the balance of the side out of kilter: Russia international Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Pavlyuchenko appears to have been made the fall guy for Juande Ramos's ill-fated spell in charge of Tottenham before Redknapp was appointed last season. The 27-year-old cost Tottenham about £14m when he signed from Spartak Moscow in September 2008 and immediately became the first-choice striker as he inherited the number nine shirt from Dimitar Berbatov, who had just departed for Manchester United.

Cynics will point to that being a poisoned chalice in itself, but Redknapp was willing to give Pavlyuchenko a chance to impress. However, he failed that task in a below-par performance in the Carling Cup against Everton.

Reports from Russia hint that Pavlyuchenko is suffering from a lack of confidence and his national coach, Guus Hiddink, has even come to speak to Redknapp about motivating the striker.

Nevertheless, it seems Pavlyuchenko will be made available in the January transfer window, bringing and end to his unhappy spell in London. Pavlyuchenko's demise has a stange similarity with Sergei Rebrov's career at Tottenham, when he too found himself frozen out of the side in 2001. The then manager Glenn Hoddle, was clearly unimpressed and the £11m Ukraine international and he was later sold.

It can be a story that is repeated for Darren Bent's career at the club. Bent, like Pavlyuchenko and Rebrov, was a big-money signing who failed to make a significant impact before later being sold off to Sunderland.

Interestingly, Bent's departure led to the arrival of Crouch from Portsmouth, so will the sale of Pavlyuchenko lead to the signing of a new striker this winter?

If Spurs are realistic about becoming a top four side, then Redknapp will need to maintain the balance within his 4-4-2 formation which will require two extra strikers as cover. A new signing, could therefore create unrest among the likes of Defoe, Keane and Crouch as all three have shown they crave first-team action in the past.

Should Pavlyuchenko leave the club in the winter, Redknapp will need to pick a replacement very carefully to avoid unsettling his trio of forwards for they are surely the key to Tottenham's Champions League ambitions becoming a reality.