MANCHESTER United are poised to bid for Dimitar Berbatov after Tottenham effectively invited offers for the £25m-rated striker.
Sir Alex Ferguson is a long-time admirer of the Bulgarian hitman, who enhanced his already glowing reputation with four more goals for Spurs against Reading on Saturday.
The Reds boss was alerted to his potential availability when Juande Ramos admitted for the first time that Berbatov could be set to quit White Hart Lane.
"If it was up to me Dimitar would stay - but I cannot guarantee it," revealed Ramos.
Ferguson tried to sign the ex-Bayer Leverkusen striker in the summer and planned another raid at the end of the season.
But Spurs' revelation that they could be ready to accept offers for their prize asset has forced Ferguson's hand.
Sir Alex had suggested he would not be making any moves during the January transfer window - but he may have to alter his plans with Europe's top clubs now aware of Berbatov's availability.
Ramos confessed he cannot guarantee the future of any of his players at White Hart Lane.
"I can't do that for Berbatov or anybody else," he said. "In football everything is open and anything can happen. We want Berbatov to stay and our intention is that and we think he will. But to give assurances I don't do that neither for (Paul) Robinson, (Robbie) Keane or any other footballer.
Important
"He's not for sale and we don't want to sell him. This is the contractual situation at the moment."
"The chairman is working very hard to make sure he stays. He is a very important player for us."
But Ferguson believes he could hold the upper hand with contract rebel Wes Brown used as a potential makeweight in the deal.
The England defender has rejected a £50,000-a-week deal and will leave as a free agent in the summer.
Ferguson insists United won't up their offer and is tempted to recoup some money on Brown by moving him on in January.
He has already identified potential replacements for Brown - mulling over a £6m move for Rangers' Scotland international Alan Hutton and keeping close tabs on Reading's Nicky Shorey.
United will once again be irritated to have to fend off interest from Real Madrid for double footballer of the year Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish champions look to have kicked off another media-generated campaign to unsettle the Portuguese international - making it known they are prepared to pay £50m to will him away from Old Trafford
But any move seems unlikely with Ronaldo contracted to United until 2012 and stating on numerous occasions that he is happy in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Ferguson has admitted there is a "massive chance" Arsenal will go on to take their Barclays Premier League crown.
The Scot regards being top at New Year as one of the season's significant milestones and that position is now occupied again by the Gunners, who won 4-1 at Everton to go two points clear after United had stumbled to a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.
Is Berbatov the right move for United? Have your say.
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I've been saying all along he would be a brilliant signing, and along with a fullback would make us the strongest team in the premiership. People say that he has a problem with his character, but, like Wayne Rooney's termperament, I'm sure Sir Alex would eradicate that. He proved what a class footballer he is with 4 goals agains reading; and at 27 he is reaching his peak.
Maybe we can sweeten the deal by, giving Saha and Brown in exchange as well.
For the full back position, get Bosingwa, Hutton, Ivanovic or Lahm, all of whom are terrific players and would provide quality cover at fullback. Danny Simpson simply hasnt got the experience to be the first choice right back this season for united. As for Pique, he would fit in quite well, however his best position is centre back and like Brown would not be suited to Right Back. Still I think he is still too young and needs more experience before he can become first choice.
You moan about Real Madrid tapping up Ronaldo through the media, but Man Utd have been doing the same in regards to Berbatove for months.
Yes Berbatov will go, but not in this transfer window, probably in the summer.
If Utd want him make them pay £30 million, or give us Nani and Carrick for him. But I would prefer that he went to AC Milan or Real Madrid. He is too good for Man Utd!
Don't sell Ronaldo, go for Berbs if we can get a part-exchange for Fletcher and Saha so as not to break the bank, and try to keep Brown. Two players to jump into the first team is too much, halfway through the season.
I'd offer Fletch, Carrick and Hargreaves in exchange.
Forget the bitter Reds - Berbatov to Sven's Blues is a done deal - FACT
Moody, mean, & arrogant but also a wonderful, talented footballer.( The closest there has been to Cantona in the EPL imo ) An absolute must have in my book, just 27 & his style of play is made for us. If spurs would take Saha in part-ex we should thrash out a deal straight away as it's only a matter of time before someone else gets him.
Ps Any chance of stealing Mascherano from cash-strapped Liverpool? He'd be an ideal replacement for Hargreaves.
This would be one of fergie's best ever signings if it happen's ive been watching him very closley in the last season and half and he has class in bucket loads. Put a player of the skill and control of berbatov in our team and you have the final piece of the best attacking team in world football. Rooney , teves , ronaldo , giggs , scholes, anderson , nani , park add berbatov to that teams will be scared to death . And lets get one more thing out in the open saha must go to many injuries now slow not the best on the ball time to move on thanks for the goals but its time for a change.
God I hope not!
I think that Spurs may be tempted by Sven offering Bianchi plus
£5 million!
He's thrown his bottle out of the trolley!!
I don't think we will spend 25m in january!!!
Would very much prefer Anelka!!
I think he'll come in the summer & player swaps will be involved. Forget Fletch they aren't that daft or Brown & Saha who are too old for their policy. No I think Mr Carrick could be key to this deal given the probability of the Veloso deal. I hope so anyway.
What's all thuis about full-backs?!
Very unlikely that we'll sign anyone!
Where's the cash coming from?!
As for full-back SAF has said that he'd like a left-back (left-footed!), as for Neville's unlikely return anytime soon, in the long- term Smpson is the one!
Oh, and I just want to say ANELKA!!
Up The Reds
Really hope this deal happens, Berba would be wonderful for the team. Brown, Saha and or Carrick used to make the deal affordable. Him and Rooney would be the perfect strike force with Tevez utilsed as stand in/ regular sub. Lets see what happens on this one.
Oh and just to point out to the Berties. Berbatov said he wants to join a big club, why would he step down to a club that isn't as successful as Spurs and gets lower attendance (can't fill your ground unless the big boys come to town :oD
We bought Tevez less than 6 months ago so I can’t see SAF spending tens of millions on Berbatov now. I only expect to see a Wes replacement (sorry to see him go) joining in January.
Seeing that Ronaldo has now scored more goals than Rooney/Tevez put together we are clearly vulnerable up front. I really wish we could rely on Saha but ‘eggs’, ‘basket’ and ‘omelette’ come to mind.
I doubt very much that United can afford to shell out £25M at this stage after all they are £660M in debt now,just how much further in debt can they actually go?
Berbatov is good,but to pay 25 million plus for another player does not seem worth it at the moment.I would up my ante again and say get Huntelaar.Mark my words,that guy will be another RVN in the making.....
RED SADDOS HES COMING TO CITY!!!
the berb i think not ,id go for the cut price anelka surely.
berbs scored but saha when fit is better and on form ,so just go for anelka nothing to lose.
he's sooner go to Bristol City than Man Citeh! don't be idiotic, he said and i quote,'' at my age i want to win trophies, i have ambition''! enough said bitterman!
OH AND WHEN THE CHIMES OF BIG BEN ARE HEARD TONIGHT JUST REMEMBER THIS OUR BLUE VISITORS, YOU ARE ENTERING ANOTHER YEAR WITHOUT A MAJOR TROPHY,, 32 YEARS TO BE PRECISE!
Nothong's happening on this in January....unless we're foced to as happened with Rooney when it appeared that Newcastle had matched Everton's asking price.
If we can somehow persuade his agent to wait until the summer than I'm convinced he's ours.
As for full-back, again Wes won't be leaving in January so any replacement (Hutton or Bosingwa most realistic) will be bought in the summer when Wes will leave on a free. However I have a sneaking feeling we could tie-up Nicky Shorey for a summer free-transfer by speaking to him in January.
Won't happen, it's just his agent talking it up. Maybe Anelka, because after our West Ham performance there's no way Fergie can say he's happy with the squad.I can also see us getting another fuull back to cover for Evra. Shorey looks the business, great dead ball delivery too, but would he be happy in a nin starting role, probably not.RBis a problem that can wait until summer, but shame on Wes for (reportedly) turning his back on a 50m per week deal. Geez, give your head a shake, that's an obscene amount of money and I would have thought he'd grab it because it's unlikely to be offered elsewhere.
Let's hope we decide to show up aginst Brum tomorrow, and Fergie plays his strongest side otherwise we could get turned over again and kiss the PL goodbye. We can't afford to play the likes of the son of SAF and Giggs. I still say, as I did after the Bolton game, that we have more games in us like that one. The Hammers game proved that, and there's more to come. I just don't see the Arses dropping too many, while we will drop probably 9-12 more over the ramining schedule.
Oops I was wrong about Fergie not being able to say he was happy with the squad.From the official website:
"We felt the draft a bit towards the end of last season," said Sir Alex. "What we tried to do in the summer was make sure we had a squad that was capable of withstanding everything. I think our squad's strong, I like it."
So that should put an end to transfer speculation.