Football FanCast columnist Des Brown feels it is imperative that Spurs don't let another opportunity to sign Andrei Arshavin pass.

I'm sure I wasn't the only Spurs fan completely bemused at the clubs failure to sign Andrei Arshavin. Here is one of the most exciting talents in European football, rated by all and was available at £18m. I personally cannot think of a more perfect replacement for Robbie Keane, in style, stature and ability and given we got £20m for our departed vice captain, I cannot understand why we dragged our feet over Zenit's asking price.

Damien Comolli has seemingly been the whipping boy in the eyes of Spurs fans, but I feel Levy has to take some of the blame here. It was reported that Juande Ramos openly courted the player and it was widely regarded that the Russian had agreed to join the club after talks with the Spaniard. With personal terms in place, all that was left was to meet the valuation - this had nothing to do with Comolli, he surely doesn't sign the cheques, so the ball is very much in the Chairman and boards court as to why this transfer didn't go through. This is the only transfer window I have known where Spurs have actually come out in a healthy profit, which also confuses me why the move wasn't sanctioned.

I think the whole bemusement about Arshavin was confirmed when we signed his international teammate and strike partner Roman Pavlyuchenko. With Keane and Berbatov out of the door then surely the signing of an established pairing would have made the transition somewhat easier. With Roman confirming his move on the Friday subject to a Visa then Spurs had all weekend to find that extra £2m for Arshavin. The rumour around the club is that Spurs looked for the cheaper option of Sergio Garcia - hardly in the same League.

So it has come out in the last couple of days that Zenit are not offering Arshavin a new deal and the player as well as his agent, have both hinted that a move in January is increasingly likely. I don't what my fellow Spurs fans feel but I think that this is an opportunity to good to let pass again and the club should be doing their damndest to get some pre contractual deal together. As mentioned I cannot think of a better replacement for Keane or the perfect complement for Pavlyuchenko. The ball is in Levy's court to make up for where we failed this summer. Healthy profits is one thing, winning football matches is quite another and with Arshavin we would have had had a damn sight better chance.