[funkdoctorspock]

Was a top transfer prospect at the beginning of the summer, but with a 40 million pound valuation slapped on by the Spuds, he was looked over.

Season starts, Spuds stuttered out of the gates, team/manager turmoil and United apparently see an opening.

Apparently they've made a 21-22 million pound bid for Berbatov. I don't think the Spuds will crack and this will come to pass. Thoughts?

Fergie orders Berbatov cocktail

DIMITAR Berbatov is United's £22m top target as Sir Alex Ferguson ponders whether to splash the cash in a bid to get the champs back to winning ways.

The Reds' boss is aware of the behind-the-scenes bust-up between the Bulgarian striker and his Spurs boss Martin Jol. And the 26-year-old wasn't happy when his international team-mate and good friend Martin Petrov opted for City rather than Tottenham with Sven-Goran Eriksson wooing him to Sportcity with a £60,000-a-week package.

With Wayne Rooney, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo all out of action at the moment, United's strikepower is severely depleted especially as Guiseppe Rossi and Alan Smith have been sold.

The Reds have only scored three goals in their last nine competitive matches and are well off the pace with only two points from three Premier League games.

Berbatov, who is suffering with a groin injury, has been upset by events at White Hart Lane over the past few weeks and is still unsure Spurs can give him the Champions League football he craves for.

The Bulgarian's agent, Emil Dantchev, has since had to deny that Berbatov fell out with under-pressure manager Jol amid reports the Dutchman went to the board demanding the striker be sold.

Improved

But talks over a new, improved contract, which began near the end of last season, have stopped and only two months ago Berbatov revealed his dream of playing for United.

He said: "Of course I like Sir Alex's team. Their style is attacking and pleasant to watch and it coincides with my own style of playing football. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney are fantastic players and that fast guy Cristiano Ronaldo on the right side is a magician with the ball. He plays football from another planet. Of course, it would be a pleasure for me to play with these guys. They simply know how to have fun on the pitch."

Berbatov scored 23 goals in his first season in English football having joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen for £10.9m. If Spurs resist United's overtures Fergie will switch his attention to another Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, Nicolas Anelka at Bolton or even check-out the availability of Newcastle duo Michael Owen and Obafemi Martens.

Meanwhile, Tomasz Kuszczak could find himself in the firing line for United on Sunday as Fergie sweats on a fitness report on Edwin van der Sar.

The veteran Dutchman failed to play any part in his country's friendly defeat to Switzerland in Geneva on Wednesday night after injuring his left foot in a training ground collision.

While the damage was not serious enough to force Van der Sar into an immediate flight back to the north west, he must be a major doubt for Spurs' visit to Old Trafford.

If Van der Sar does not make it, Kuszczak will step in for only his seventh league start since arriving from West Brom at the start of last term.
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[dtunam]

I know I would love it. I also know that Stefan (gocart....) will run naked on the streets if this happened. The main quesiton is the asking price. Tottenham have overhyped him so much that they are asking for a price which is way above anyone valuation of Berbatov. However if we sign him, I will be over the moon

[GocartMozart]

you have no idea. you really have no idea.

he has to live up to the hype truly, but the question is, are we ok with his frequency of having groin strains? saha 2.0?

[funkdoctorspock]

Maybe next year... hehe...

apparently United never put in a bid... suuuuurrrree...

Gill: No bid for Berbatov

MANCHESTER United have rejected claims they have made a bid for Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a known admirer of the Bulgaria international, who scored 23 goals in his debut campaign with Spurs.

It is believed at one stage this summer Ferguson did make a tentative inquiry for the 26-year-old, only to be flatly told there was no possibility of a sale.

Yet Berbatov's agent, Emil Dantchev last night claimed United have been in touch again with a firm offer and he will meet Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy at some stage next week to discuss the interest.

However, Reds have taken the unusual step of denying the story publicly.

"United are linked with many players in every transfer window," said chief executive David Gill.

"The club have categorically not made a bid for Berbatov."

Given the unequivocal nature of Gill's statement, and the mere fact he decided to make it, there is clearly no appetite to follow up Ferguson's initial interest, with the United boss claiming there would be no more purchases before the transfer window shuts next Friday.

"We made an inquiry about a striker not so long ago. The club concerned would not sell and it remains that way," Ferguson said. "With a week to the transfer deadline, it would be impossible to get anyone else in now."

Spurs boss Martin Jol, whose side visit Old Trafford tomorrow, said last night: "I'd rather die than sell him."

And he denied there was a rift between himself and the player

"Berbatov loves me," Jol insisted. "If he is playing well he gets all the praise and if he is not doing well I have to tell him."

Meanwhile, Fergie is blaming boardroom hangers-on, the media and a continental attitude developing in football for intense pressure Premier League managers find themselves under.

He singled those out as the factors putting the pressure on Jol. Just three matches into the Premiership campaign and the Tottenham manager's job has been under severe scrutiny.

Spurs are above United in the table, having lost their two openers to Sunderland and Everton before getting the first win on the board against Derby County.

But the media have been making much of the fact that Seville coach Juande Ramos has allegedly been spoken to by the London club as Jol's successor.

The White Hart Lane hierarchy have denied that the Spaniard is heir apparent at Spurs and chairman Levy has backed the under-fire Dutchman.

However, Spurs come to Old Trafford tomorrow still with a cloud over the club.

But Fergie finds it ludicrous that he once again has to back a fellow manager.

"I know enough about Martin Jol's work. I interviewed him for a job as assistant here after Carlos Queiroz left," he said. "I know the work he has done in Holland is outstanding, particularly working with little resources. He doesn't really need me to trumpet his abilities. Everyone is aware of them.

"You need time to change round a massive club like that and win a championship. The job he did last year was terrific.

"He has bought well. He has only had two full seasons in charge.

"It is encouraging that Daniel Levy has come out and said he is completely supportive. I hope that is the case. That is the kind of thing he really needs now.

"It is just sad there is such a knee-jerk reaction in football today. The amount of times I have sat here over the years and supported managers who are under pressure is unfair. But it doesn't change.

"There have been managers sacked four or five games into a season. Peter Reid (at City), Bobby Robson (at Newcastle). You think `what are they doing?'

"I have said time and again, there is no evidence that sacking a manager gets you success."
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[vrider]

nevermind about berbatov, saha back in full training, hopefully bench next week

[RobsonLegend]

**SPOILER**

He was big trouble to United today. I would gladly have him line up FOR us.

[GocartMozart]

and yet we had dong as our striker on the bench. that's just sad. Saha is still injured and it sounds like he won't be making it on the pitch on saturday. I'm really losing patience.

Now fanutd and I had to deal with a lot of Geordie bastards, and I must say I would have really have liked to have Ole around. Ugg we need to improve.

[funkdoctorspock]

Guess this is really make or break year with the Spuds... I'm sure if they don't finish top 4 and Saha doesn't come back and perform to the level that everyone knows he is capable of... I'll bold some of the article... put two and two together...

Berbatov pledges future to Spurs

Berbatov impressed in Tottenham's 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford

Dimitar Berbatov has confirmed he is staying at Tottenham, ending recent speculation about his future.

The 26-year-old Bulgarian's agent Emil Dantchev has revealed renewed interest in his player from Manchester United.

But the Spurs striker insisted: "I chose to join Tottenham last season, now I'm staying at the club through my own free will. At least for now.

"There has been a lot of speculation but all I can say is the club's board have decided to raise my salary."

Berbatov joined Tottenham from German side Bayer Leverkusen in May 2006 and scored 12 league goals last season.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a known admirer of the big forward and did make a tentative inquiry for the player earlier in the summer.

Berbatov told Bulgarian Football Weekly : "No one said that United didn't have interest in me and my price in general but it has to be clear that there will not be a move for now."

Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Martin Jol is "100% convinced" Berbatov will remain at the club.

Jol revealed: "I said on Friday that I would rather die than sell Berbatov. Hopefully, I won't die. I am 100% convinced he will stay at the club."

Meanwhile Jol, who has been assured his job is safe, refused to react to confirmation chairman Daniel Levy was part of a Spurs deputation which went to Spain for a meeting with reported managerial candidate Juande Ramos.

Jol said: "It is always handy that everyone is there if you want to see a club structure and how a club works."
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[ROONEYGR]

We took Tevez so i believe the only way to grab Berbatov is to sell Saha or exchanged him + money for Berbatov!!!

[dada]

Tevez wasnt that big a financial hit for us right now to limit what we could potentially spend on a potential player I feel. I think its probably impossible to sell Saha for any significant sum right nowso I wouldnt bank on any big contribution to the Berbatov fund from his end. People always make these exchange scenarios, myself included, but how often do you actually see them pulled off? Most times its straight up or nothing at all.