MOSCOW, July 11, Vasily Bogdanov. Football agent Alexey Safonov stated that he does not believe in the transfer of Spartak Moscow striker Alexander Sobolev to Zenit St. Petersburg for 20-30 million euros.
Earlier, a source reported that the transfer of Alexander Sobolev from Spartak to Zenit should be carried out within a couple of days; the 27-year-old football player agreed to the terms of the contract offered to him by the St. Petersburgers. The general director of the “red-whites” Oleg Malyshev, in turn, said that Sobolev remains a Spartak player, and the club has not received any offers from Zenit. It is reported that Sobolev's transfer to Zenit is being actively lobbied by Zenit head coach Sergei Semak.
Zenit can afford to buy any player in the Russian Championship. I don’t believe in 20 or 30 million euros for Sobolev; the transfer will cost 8-10 million. As I understand it, Zenit, on the occasion of the club’s centenary, wants to win the Russian championship and is not so much strengthening its roster as weakening its competitors. Because St. Petersburg already has players for three or four full-fledged teams. Apparently, if they buy Sobolev, then, say, Sergeev will leave. Plus, discussions are now gradually beginning on a possible reduction in the limit on foreign players, and Zenit is preparing for this. In the summer, they buy only Russians, and accomplished players, of whom there are not many in the RPL,” Safonov said.