SPFL Premiership club bring in one-time £13MILLION star for training stint as they plan shock transfer move

ROMAN EREMENKO is ready to help St Johnstone in their relegation battle. The one-time £13million man flew into Scotland to train with Simo Valakari’s side and could sign on later this week AP:Associated PressRoman Eremenko could join the Saints in a shock swoop[/caption] ReutersEremenko playing against Rangers in 2018[/caption] David Henderson - The Sun GlasgowHe is the younger brother of former Kilmarnock star Alexei Eremenko[/caption] Eremenko is keen to have one last hurrah outside Finland after his career hit the skids nine years ago following a failed drugs test. The 37-year-old, younger brother of ex-Kilmarnock star Alexei Eremenko, has been playing in his homeland with Honka and Gnistan in recent seasons. Eremenko, who was a £13m signing for Rubin Kazan back in 2011, has also played for Udinese, Dynamo Kyiv, Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow. It was after a Champions League game with CSKA against Bayer Leverkusen in 2016 that he tested positive for cocaine and was hit with a two-year ban.  Valakari said: “Roman is coming over for a few days to train with us. “It will work both ways, we can see him and he can have a look at us. “That’s the best way to do it before we sit down and talk about things further. “Roman has all the qualities that his big brother had, good vision, good technical ability and is someone who can see passes. “But what makes him different, and I mean this in a positive way because I worked with his brother before, is he’s more about the team. “Alexei was all about the attack, he just wanted to go forward all the time! “Roman works harder for the team, which you have to do when you have played at the level he has. “He’s been in the Champions League with some very big clubs so you need to have that. “Roman is not a flashy player, he does the simple things very, very well. “He has a real football brain, it’s like a computer inside his head. “It will be very interesting to see him training with us, see how his level is compared to our levels. “I am excited about it but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves because at the moment it’s just training.” Valakari has been a huge admirer of Eremenko – 73 caps for the Finnish national side – for years. And revealed it was a tip off from his Motherwell-born son Onni, who has just signed for MLS side San Diego FC, which alerted him. He said: “My son Onni has been working with Roman to keep himself fit over the festive season. Roman Eremenko's career 2005-2009 – Udinese 2007 – Siena (loan) 2009 – 2011 – Dynamo Kyiv 2011 – 2014 – Rubin Kazan 2014-2017 – CSKA Moscow 2018 – Spartak Moscow 2019 – 2021 – Rostov 2022 – HIFK 2023 – Honka 2024 – Gnistan “He called me to say he’s in very good shape, so I should contact him. “He played the Finnish season and was excellent for his club. “I have admired him for a long time and obviously I watch the league back home. “I think he was even better last season than he had been the year before, so even though he’s 37 I think he’s got a lot left to give. “There will be question marks about his age and his past. “Roman feels because of his mistakes – which were a long way in the past now – he hasn’t fulfilled the whole potential in his career. “He was almost in tears when I phoned him to ask if he wanted to come here because he didn’t think he’d get another chance abroad. “I have just told him to come over, see how things work out and then we’ll talk. AlamySimo Valakari is keen to secure a loan deal for the veteran[/caption] “After a few days we will know better.” Valakari will also run the rule over midfielder Jake Taylor, who is a free after leaving Morecambe last summer. He said: “Jake Taylor will also be joining us for training so we can get a look at each other. “He is available on a free transfer so it’s good for both of us.” Saints have had bids from Crawley and Gillingham for defender Jack Sanders but with only two centre backs at the club they can’t entertain them. And with midfielder Victor Griffith the first of several players to arrive at McDiarmid in this window, Valakari revealed he’s had others chap his door to ask for clarity. He said: “We are getting new players in so some have asked me about their futures – that is natural.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Jan 14, 2025 - 11:00
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SPFL Premiership club bring in one-time £13MILLION star for training stint as they plan shock transfer move

ROMAN EREMENKO is ready to help St Johnstone in their relegation battle.

The one-time £13million man flew into Scotland to train with Simo Valakari’s side and could sign on later this week

Roman Eremenko of CSKA Moscow celebrating a goal.
AP:Associated Press
Roman Eremenko could join the Saints in a shock swoop[/caption]
Rangers' Nikola Katic in action during a soccer match.
Reuters
Eremenko playing against Rangers in 2018[/caption]
Soccer player Alexei Eremenko kneeling on the field with arms raised in celebration.
David Henderson - The Sun Glasgow
He is the younger brother of former Kilmarnock star Alexei Eremenko[/caption]

Eremenko is keen to have one last hurrah outside Finland after his career hit the skids nine years ago following a failed drugs test.

The 37-year-old, younger brother of ex-Kilmarnock star Alexei Eremenko, has been playing in his homeland with Honka and Gnistan in recent seasons.

Eremenko, who was a £13m signing for Rubin Kazan back in 2011, has also played for Udinese, Dynamo Kyiv, Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow.

It was after a Champions League game with CSKA against Bayer Leverkusen in 2016 that he tested positive for cocaine and was hit with a two-year ban. 

Valakari said: “Roman is coming over for a few days to train with us.

“It will work both ways, we can see him and he can have a look at us.

“That’s the best way to do it before we sit down and talk about things further.

“Roman has all the qualities that his big brother had, good vision, good technical ability and is someone who can see passes.

“But what makes him different, and I mean this in a positive way because I worked with his brother before, is he’s more about the team.

“Alexei was all about the attack, he just wanted to go forward all the time!

“Roman works harder for the team, which you have to do when you have played at the level he has.

“He’s been in the Champions League with some very big clubs so you need to have that.

“Roman is not a flashy player, he does the simple things very, very well.

“He has a real football brain, it’s like a computer inside his head.

“It will be very interesting to see him training with us, see how his level is compared to our levels.

“I am excited about it but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves because at the moment it’s just training.”

Valakari has been a huge admirer of Eremenko – 73 caps for the Finnish national side – for years.

And revealed it was a tip off from his Motherwell-born son Onni, who has just signed for MLS side San Diego FC, which alerted him.

He said: “My son Onni has been working with Roman to keep himself fit over the festive season.

Roman Eremenko's career

2005-2009 – Udinese

2007 – Siena (loan)

2009 – 2011 – Dynamo Kyiv

2011 – 2014 – Rubin Kazan

2014-2017 – CSKA Moscow

2018 – Spartak Moscow

2019 – 2021 – Rostov

2022 – HIFK

2023 – Honka

2024 – Gnistan

“He called me to say he’s in very good shape, so I should contact him.

“He played the Finnish season and was excellent for his club.

“I have admired him for a long time and obviously I watch the league back home.

“I think he was even better last season than he had been the year before, so even though he’s 37 I think he’s got a lot left to give.

“There will be question marks about his age and his past.

“Roman feels because of his mistakes – which were a long way in the past now – he hasn’t fulfilled the whole potential in his career.

“He was almost in tears when I phoned him to ask if he wanted to come here because he didn’t think he’d get another chance abroad.

“I have just told him to come over, see how things work out and then we’ll talk.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari at Tynecastle Park.
Alamy
Simo Valakari is keen to secure a loan deal for the veteran[/caption]

“After a few days we will know better.”

Valakari will also run the rule over midfielder Jake Taylor, who is a free after leaving Morecambe last summer.

He said: “Jake Taylor will also be joining us for training so we can get a look at each other.

“He is available on a free transfer so it’s good for both of us.”

Saints have had bids from Crawley and Gillingham for defender Jack Sanders but with only two centre backs at the club they can’t entertain them.

And with midfielder Victor Griffith the first of several players to arrive at McDiarmid in this window, Valakari revealed he’s had others chap his door to ask for clarity.

He said: “We are getting new players in so some have asked me about their futures – that is natural.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page