Source: Daily Mail

Stipe Pletikosa's move to Tottenham Hotspur is on hold amid uncertainty over the future of Spartak Moscow boss Valery Karpin.

The Croatia No 1 has been frozen out at Russia's biggest club because of Spartak's difficulties in staying within a limit on foreign players in their domestic league.

Spurs have long tracked Pletikosa and agreed a deal to sign him last August before a serious knee injury scuppered the deal.

Harry Redknapp again admitted at the weekend that a new move was on the agenda, but Spartak are now understood to favour cashing in with a permanent transfer rather than the initial loan preferred by Spurs.

However, there are those in Moscow who believe Pletikosa should be restored to the starting line-up after a poor start to the season for the club.

Karpin is under pressure to step down with the club languishing in sixth in the Russian Premier League with five wins in 13 games as they head into the Champions League next month.

irst choice keeper Soslan Dzhanayev has started every game, conceding 16 goals in a low-scoring league.

Pletikosa is keen on the move, but Redknapp won't wait for ever as he seeks to bring in competition for Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini.