Filimonov set for Dynamo exit

Alexander Filimonov has not joined Russian Premier-Liga new boys Uralan Elista but FC Dynamo Kyiv still expect the Russian international goalkeeper to return to his homeland in search of first-team football ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Fierce competition
It was believed the 28-year-old Filimonov had signed a two-year deal with Uralan on Wednesday after failing to survive competition from Ukrainian international goalkeepers Olexandr Shovkovsky and Vitali Reva for a place in the Dynamo first team. Dynamo dismissed the reports, insisting that Filimonov would be travelling to Moscow along with the rest of the squad to compete in the Commonwealth Cup.

uefa.com learns
However, a Dynamo spokesman told uefa.com that they expect to part company with the keeper, saying: "It is clear that Filimonov will part company with Dynamo. He will most likely start the season with one of the Russian clubs as he needs to get ready for the World Cup."

Failed to settle
Filimonov joined Dynamo last summer in a €600,000 deal but has failed to settle. He has also lost his place in the national team to Hellas-Verona FC's Ruslan Nigmatullin.

High-profile signings
The goalkeeper would have become the latest in a series of high-profile signings made by Uralan in the pre-season. They already have former FC Lokomotiv Moscow captain Igor Chugainov and Russian top scorer Dmitri Vyazmikin on their books.

Shinnik chase Serebrennikov
Meanwhile, another promoted Premier-Liga team, FC Shinnik Jaroslavl, are looking to sign Dynamo forward Serhiy Serebrennikov. Dynamo's Artem Yashkin has already joined Shinnik on loan.