Zenit St Petersburg have invited Spurs to make a bid upwards of £20million for Arshavin, who caught the eye at Euro 2008, but it is understood that the Barclays Premier League club will focus their attention elsewhere.

Dennis Lachter, Arshavin's advisor, had previously claimed that the 27-year-old was ready to join Spurs and that head coach Juande Ramos had 'explained his vision of football' to the playmaker. Lachter also spoke of the problems negotiating with Russian clubs.

Earlier on Friday, Lachter revealed that Zenit's demands were proving a stumbling block for Spurs.

"At the moment there are negotiations between Arshavin and Tottenham, however, because of the big transfer sum Zenit are asked for, it is taking some time," Lachter told daily sports newspaper Sovetsky.

"(Tottenham boss) Juande Ramos wants to sign Arshavin and has made him his main transfer target. (Chairman) Daniel Levy is also doing his utmost to make sure the transfer goes through but it is proving difficult to reach an agreement with Zenit."

Lachter revealed Arshavin had long been a target for Ramos, who even contacted the forward in person to help secure the deal.

"Ramos has been following Arshavin for a long time, even when he was coach of Sevilla," Lachter continued.

"Andrei has already expressed his desire to move on from Zenit and has also said that he wants to play for Tottenham. He likes the team's style of play and Ramos' style of management.

"Ramos has phoned the player directly and in that conversation he spoke of his vision for the club and the role Arshavin will play in that."

Zenit have accepted that Arshavin will leave with his preference a move to Spanish giants Barcelona.

Arshavin recently told Newsweek magazine: "My only wish is to play with a stronger team. If Zenit agrees with Chelsea or Arsenal, I will gladly join either of them."

Tottenham are in the market for a striker following the departure of Robbie Keane to Liverpool, and with Dimitar Berbatov making it clear he wants to leave White Hart Lane.

Sporting director Damien Comolli and chairman Daniel Levy are working on a list of players, having already signed Luka Modric, Giovani dos Santos, Heurelho Gomes, John Bostock and David Bentley.

Spartak Moscow striker Pavlyuchenko is one of the players they are monitoring but a move for him has not gathered pace yet. Germany forward Lukas Podolski also claimed Spurs were interested in him earlier in the summer.

Diego Milito's agent this week ruled out a switch to Tottenham for the Real Zaragoza forward, while Real Madrid midfielder Ruben De la Red looks set to remain at the Bernabeu.

Meanwhile, Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has criticised Levy in the Spanish press, accusing him of "hypocrisy" for his attack on Manchester United after Spurs recruited Ramos last season.