(Photo credit: Sergei Mikhailichenko / Echoes Wire / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Zenit St. Petersburg target man Artem Dzyuba has told Russian outlet Sport Express that Tottenham Hotspur tried to sign the Russian striker in the January window – but his side rejected an offer to land the 31-year-old.

Dzyuba has continued his consistent goalscoring rate this season with 13 goals in 26 games – as well as laying on 11 assists. He has spearheaded Zenit’s assault on the Russian Premier League, with the club sitting 10 points clear of second.

Tottenham were desperate to sign a striker in the January window given Harry Kane had torn his hamstring, but they failed with moves to sign the likes of Olivier Giroud, Islam Slimani and even new Manchester United star Odion Ighalo.

Now, another has confirmed Tottenham tried to sign him, in the form of 42-time Russia international Dzyuba. However, the experienced powerhouse reckons a move could have materialised had Spurs tried harder to nab his signature.

“When Harry Kane got injured, people contacted me about a move to Spurs,” Dzyuba said. “But Zenit refused the offer. I had conversations but the move never materialised. I think if Tottenham really wanted to sign me, then they would be more insistent. There was interest, but that’s all.”

TBR’s view – Dzyuba would have been a very good signing

Especially because Spurs could have landed the powerful striker for a bargain fee. He is the perfect Jose Mourinho striker – big, strong and powerful in the air. He brings others into the game, just as much as he scores goals himself.

In his 165 appearances for Zenit, Dzyuba has scored 65 but also created 47. It is that latter stat that would make him a stunning signing, and given his contract expires in the summer, a cut-price fee could have been orchestrated.

On the cheap, goals and assists, experience and the perfect Mourinho striker, Dzyuba would have been a very good purchase.