More Zenit Ambition, Izmailov’s Railroad Ties, and Caucasus Footballers Finally Get Some Attention

Not content in Bordeaux, Fernando's caught Spalletti's eye

In one way or another, 10 out 16 RPL clubs are covered in this dose of spletnik: Zenit attempts to foil Genoa’s plans, Lokomotiv’s plans still involve Izmailov, Carioca seems to have solidified his plans, and Dinamo reveals their plan calls for more twins, plus oh so much more.

• Now from afar, Spalletti continues to scoff at Genoa.

Zenit St. Petersburg is currently mulling over the idea of buying the rights to FC Girondins de Bordeaux’s 28-year-old midfielder Fernando Menegatstso, according to Mercato365.

Fernando and his agent have recently been in negotiations with Genoa (Italy) that were thought to be nearing a successful resolution, with the player already having agreed to terms with the Italian club. However, it has been reported today that the talks have stalled after the clubs failed to agree on the transfer fee. It seems as though it was an old case of the “I want him for €4 million” vs. “You can’t have him for less than €6 million.”

Another bone of contention among the clubs is the exact date that Genoa would receive the player; Les Girondins wish to keep him onboard while they race toward a second-straight championship but the Rossoblu would like to bring him over immediately.

Given that Fernando’s wish to change scenery has been prompted by a motivation to challenge himself by facing stiffer competition, a move to Zenit would appear highly unlikely.

That being said, the fact that Zenit’s name has been circulating is at least a suggestion of their ambition. Sooner or later one of these rumors attaching Zenit to high profile players will come to fruition, no?

• The Brothers Karamyan

In what could only send a shiver down a broadcaster’s spine, FC Timişoara’s twin brothers Arman and Artavazd Karamyan are reportedly in talks with Dinamo Moskva.

The Karamyan twins could be joining the Kombarovs

The 30-year-old Armenians have had a string of productive years in Romania first with FC Rapid Bucureşti (2004-07) and now with the Timişoara club. Prior to moving to Romania they shared a brief stint with FK Arsenal Kyiv (Ukraine).

If the deals were to be made, Dinamo Moskva would have the bizarre distinction of having two sets of twins on their squad sheet, with Dmitri and Kirill Kombarov already occupying their midfield.

Luckily, for our imaginary telecaster, the Karamyan brothers are not exclusively assigned to the midfield. Artavazd is the more defensively inclined of the pair, playing primarily at left back with Timişoara, although he can indeed be deployed on the left wing. Arman is the more attack-minded, playing both at left wing and as a striker with the White-Violets.

For Dinamo, if the rumors have some semblance of legitimacy, the brothers would most importantly offer some experience to a side with some budding prospects.

If the twins–whose respective contracts are set to expire at the end of the season–are not up for changing leagues, they have been receiving calls from FC Steaua Bucureşti. Steaua’s manager Mihai Stoichiţă could rely on his prior relationship with the Karamyans, having coached the Armenia national team in 2003-04, for some leverage. Stoichiţă and co. are currently considering a deal that could see their young midfielder Andrei Ionescu sent to Timişoara, strapped with cash, for the transfer of the Armenians.

At the moment, however, their agent is now on assignment in Moskva. (This begs the question, does the agent get 10 percent of the cut from both players? With what seems to amount to a two-for-one deal, wouldn’t 15 percent seem more reasonable?)

• Lokomotiv Moskva, thinking of yesteryear, are poised to buy back the feet–and the rest–of Marat Izmailov.

Back in December rumors began to circulate that Marat Izmailov may be enticed to return to Loko. Now the pursuit of the attacking midfielder appears to have picked up, with serious discussions starting to take place between Sporting Lisbon and the Moskva club, according to A Bola.

According to the publication, the Moskva club is ready to offer €4.5 million as a transfer fee and a €2 million-a-year deal to the Russian international.

• Lokomotiv Moskva, thinking of the future, are considering an unknown Kyrgyz attacker.

The pride of Kyrgyzstan: Mirlan Murzaev

News surfaced yesterday of another potential signing for Lokomotiv. FK Dordoi-Dinamo striker Mirlan Murzaev will undergo a medical examination for Lokomotiv, after which he is scheduled to travel with the squad for their first pre-season camp in Turkey, according to the Kyrgyz club’s website.

The 19-year-old has been in Naryn with Dordoi-Dinamo since 2007.

• Carioca’s saga reaching a conclusion

This will merely be a gloss, but Rafael Carioca’s excruciatingly delayed move to Vasco da Gama (Brazil) is expected to be made official tomorrow.

Earlier this week the player and his agent traveled to Moskva to yet again discuss his wish to be loaned to the Brazilian club.

It has now been alleged that an agreement with Spartak has been made, according to Justica Desportiva. As part of the bargain, the Moskva club had Carioca sign a long-term deal (apparently three-and-a-half years) before they approved the one-year loan that was requested by the midfielder. But, again, nothing official yet.

• Okoronkow + Gutan
  

  Solomon Okoronkwo heading to Norway

FK Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast striker Solomon Okoronkwo could be departing the greater Moskva region, according to Sport-Express. The 22-year-old Nigerian has been flown to the camp of Norwegian club Tromsø IL for what amounts in football terms to a three-day job interview.

In that short time away from the Aliens it will be decided if Okoronkwo’s future lies in the Tippeligaen on loan or permanent deal.

Okoronkwo’s contract with Saturn is good through the summer of 2011.

• Chepchugov may not shake the Siberian tundra.

Tom Tomsk has begun talks with CSKA Moskva for a possible one-year-lease of CSKA’s newly acquired goalkeeper Sergei Chepchugov.

Recall that CSKA signed the highly sought keeper last November after his contract with FK Sibir Novosibirsk expired. At the time some viewed his acquisition as yet another indication that Igor Akinfeev was soon to be tempted to move abroad.

Now that the transfer rumors linking Akinfeev to formidable clubs in Western Europe have died down, at least for now, perhaps CSKA feel comfortable enough to loan out Chepchugov in order for him to earn some valuable top-flight experience.

However, CSKA may be wise to question how much playing time Chepchugov would actually receive with the Siberian club; current Tom Tomsk keeper (and captain) Sergei Pareiko was recently voted the club’s best player in 2009. The 32-year-old Estonian has one year remaining on his contract.

CSKA certainly have young keepers waiting in the wings. Most prominently, they have Russia’s U-21 national team keeper Yevgeny Pomazan available should they need him, though the 20-year-old has only been tested once in league play—way back in 2007 while on loan from FK Kuban Krasnodar.

Veniamin Mandrykin, the stopper whose job was overtaken by a 17-year-old Akinfeev back in 2003, is still on the books at CSKA, and is available for the club after returning from a loan spell with FK Rostov—though his time with the Army club seems effectively to be over. As of now his whereabouts for the upcoming season are unclear, though reports two weeks ago suggested that the experienced 28-year-old keeper could move to FK Luch-Energiya.

• Jarošík not feeling a homecoming.
  

Krylia Sovetov Samara is set to officially lose Czech defender Jiří Jarošík, who is assessing his options for 2010 while currently training with his former club Sparta Praha. Although the Gambrinus liga stalwarts wish to sign the footballer, he has announced his wish to play with a foreign club in an interview with iDNES.

”So far there is nothing really concrete and binding. Truthfully speaking, Sparta offered me a contract, but I feel that I could still go to an interested foreign club. Maybe play a year or two abroad.”

Jarošík previously stated his intention not to renew his contract with the Samara club at the close of last season, but he did leave open the possibility of playing for another Russian club.

• More from Anzhi

Mahir Shukurov (R) is a strong addition to Anzhi's squad

After several waves of speculation, Inter Baku full-back/midfielder Mahir Shukurov will be joining FK Anzhi Makhachkala.

Negotiations between the clubs were successfully finalized today, with the Azerbaijani footballer agreeing to make the switch. In the next few days he will be heading to Russia to formally sign what the player has reported to be a two-year deal.

The 27-year-old has bounced around the Azerbaijan Premier League in the last few years, but his strong performance thus far this season with league-leading Inter has had Anzhi’s coach Omari Tetradze keen on acquiring the versatile him for quite some time.

• The briefest, and cheapest, of updates.

And, finally, despite their tremendously shady books, Manchester City appears very close to finalizing a deal with Rubin Kazan for Cristian Ansaldi. The deal’s said to cost the Citizens €5 million.