Tottenham transfer news: Axel Witsel prepared to leave Zenit St Petersburg to 'play in bigger league' next season

The 27-year-old’s contract at the Petrovsky Stadium expires at the end of next season

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel (Getty Images)

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Axel Witsel has alerted his lengthy list of suitors, including Tottenham and Stoke City, by saying he wishes to “play in a bigger league” next year.

The 27-year-old’s contract at the Petrovsky Stadium expires at the end of next season and the Belgium international, capped 63 times for his country, has courted the interest of a host of Premier League clubs in the past 12 months.

André Villas-Boas, the Zenit manager, has announced his own intentions to leave the Russian giants this summer following a timid defence of their title before also being knocked out of the Champions League at the round-of-16 stage by Benfica.

“I still have a contract for one more year come June and the club know how I feel,” Witsel told La Derniere Heure. “I would like to play in a bigger league. I cannot say that I will 100 per cent leave, but we have not held talks over a new deal and my intention is to leave this summer.

“I want to focus on finishing the season on a high, then there's the Euros and then we will see what happens.

“I spoke to a number of clubs last summer, but it was not about money for Zenit. They wanted to keep me because of the Champions League and there was no time to sign a replacement.

“When a player has just one year left on his contract, a club cannot demand too much money. I don't think Zenit will be asking €40m for me.”