Nikolay Komlichenko chose to move to Lokomotiv instead of Spartak because he is guaranteed to play as a central forward. Spartak has two strong foreign forwards, which might limit his playing time. This decision comes after leaving Rostov, indicating his desire to play regularly.

Lokomotiv is among the clubs in the Russian Premier League expressing interest in Nikolay Komlichenko. Komlichenko's agent, Alexander Klyuev, mentioned that the player has chosen to leave FC Rostov, aiming to advance his career, with the recent instability in the club's management being a significant influence on his decision. While Klyuev did not specify the player's next team, he indicated that it could be a Moscow-based club. In addition to Lokomotiv, other teams like Krasnodar are also reportedly interested in the forward. Komlichenko made the announcement of his departure following Rostov's defeat in the Russian Cup final against CSKA Moscow.