The Bulgarian hitman is the number one summer target for the Reds.
But reports that the Premier League and Champions League winners have had a £28m offer accepted by the London club are wrong.
United's chief executive David Gill has still not lodged a bid for the 27-year-old.
He will fly out with the Reds touring party to South Africa on Thursday but could make contact with Spurs before the trip. United's valuation of Berbatov is well below the £30m coach Juande Ramos claimed it would cost buyers during the last January transfer window.
Tottenham are looking for replacements and United may help them in their quest by possibly offering Louis Saha as a makeweight in the deal.
The Parisian wasn't involved in United's pre-season friendly at Aberdeen last Saturday.
Agreement
If United and Spurs can come to some agreement there is no doubt Berbatov will need little persuading to make the switch.
Former White Hart Lane boss Martin Jol, who lost his job at Spurs last October and is now coach at Hamburg, says a move to Old Trafford was always uppermost for the Bulgarian.
Jol said: "I always had a good relationship with Dimitar. But the trouble is he wanted to go to United. It was in his mind and I could do nothing about it."
Meanwhile, Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz has played down speculation he is seeking a move away from Ewood Park.
United have been linked with the Paraguay international who scored 23 goals last season.
However, after spending the past month in his homeland, Santa Cruz revealed he is ready to return to England and continue his Blackburn career.
He said: "A lot of people said my transfer to a bigger club was about to happen, but I live in the present and I'm focused on Blackburn.
"I'm happy for the good season that I had and the important goals that I scored.
"I am motivated by the other teams' interest, but if I am not transferred then I want to have a good season at Blackburn."
What should be United's spending limit on Berbatov? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Diogenes10 (15/07/2008 at 09:18)
hughesie80, London (15/07/2008 at 09:23)
Southern Red (15/07/2008 at 09:38)
george (15/07/2008 at 09:52)
Lord Ruud (15/07/2008 at 09:56)
I think £24-25m should be as high as we go, even though he is the best option out there. Would rather do this than spend same sort of money on Huntelaar (no premiership exp.) or Santa Cruz (who is not in the same league as Berbatov) and is more of an out and out striker we have moved away from.
As for the Benzema brigade, he wants to play for Madrid or Milan so it'll be Ronaldo part 2 if we did (and I doubt it very much) get him.
Berbatov is made for our club and is around the same age as Cantona when he came and I believe he offers that something different which Eric brought, as his finishing, close control and appreciation of space is good as anyone.
seasider, blackpool (15/07/2008 at 10:03)
Anyone who doesn't believe this lad will make United a better side just doesn't watch enough fooball. Personally I can't wait!
The Gordon Hill Fanclub (15/07/2008 at 10:10)
GET AMONGST IT!
Andrew Kanchelskis, Bristol (15/07/2008 at 10:12)
Lord Ruud, I totaly agree with you.
Robbo, N2409 (15/07/2008 at 10:13)
edinburgh red, edinburgh (15/07/2008 at 10:14)
Andrew Kanchelskis, Bristol (15/07/2008 at 10:14)
Numquam Moribimur, Arnhem (15/07/2008 at 10:16)
On the other hand, when you look at the options out there there aren't that many almost fully developed young talents with world class potential. Benzema is one, Agüero another. Robinho is good, but not that young, too petit and not a type I think would fit in the United dressing room.
I say, buy John Fleck (give Rangers a good sum, though) and Agüero, and we have an attacking line good to go for the next 10-15 years!
Fredrik, Sweden (15/07/2008 at 10:29)
Roque Santa Cruz would be a squad player, he's not good enough. Huntelaar might be cheaper, but he's more of a gamble and don't forget he's 24 not 19. Benzema, not available. Falcao, huge gamble. Why not test Barca's resolve with a cheeky 20m bid for Etoo? Still, I would prefer Berba.
Diogenes10 (15/07/2008 at 10:39)
moorz, Dublin (15/07/2008 at 10:44)
And i can't see Louis being much of a deal breaker in this one, fully fit he's a fantastic player but as it stands just too unreliable, be lucky to get 5-7mil for him.
jerzy (15/07/2008 at 10:54)
Just want to see the very best at OT and thats what Berbatov is.
If we've offered 20 and Spurs want 30 then it'll probably end up at around 25m.
brian meanwell (15/07/2008 at 11:33)
tooth&claw, manchester (15/07/2008 at 11:38)
As I said before, this is Spurs trying to flush out a United bid and Denchev jumping on the bandwagon. Expect a club insider to start leaking that a foreign club have expressed an interest. That's the normal procedure for this game. We're in no rush, if we decide that Berbatov is a suitable target, we can wait until Spurs get desperate. Or we can continue looking at other potential targets.
Dave (15/07/2008 at 11:52)
If we insist on talking £££s, Carrick only cost £12m upfront with adds-on dependent upon our success. Well, if winning the league twice and the champions league means we have to give Tottingham another £6m, then that was a ruddy bargain if you ask me....
Macca, Cornwall (15/07/2008 at 11:54)
As a few have said he is the best out there at present and he clearly wants to play for us, so the transfer makes sense. I can see him playing for United for 5-6 years as well so 25 million is nothing in the long run.
Lets just get the deal done and dusted as soon as possible.
wayneold, manc (15/07/2008 at 11:56)
Robbo, N2409 (15/07/2008 at 12:27)
Alias Smith, over the moon (15/07/2008 at 12:31)
Red Dawn (15/07/2008 at 12:32)
When did David Gill say that and to whom?
It was a big surprise to me yesterday that we were supposed to have agreed a £28 million deal, because that is some way over the odds. Spurs will not get the supposed £30 million they are looking for, but ofcourse they have every right to look for as much as they can.
If Berbatov wants to leave, and only wants to join United, then we are fully in the driving seat.
Yes, Spurs do have the right to extend his contract by a further 2 years, but that won't happen without the players consent, as it would have already happened by now if it were to be the case.
As it stands now, he has the right to exercise FIFA Article 17 (Webster Clause) come the end of next season and buy out the remaining year of his contract for a very low sum.
Even if Spurs were to excercise the extension clause against the players will, he could still use FIFA Article 17 to buy out what would then be 3 years remaining on his deal, because the player did not agree or sign a new deal, but the current one was just extended by his employers.
The cost of buying out 3 years would still be very low considering how much he is paid a week. It would cost him around £5 million.
You can be sure United are fully aware of all this and there is no way Spurs are going to let a situation like that arise.
As already stated, if Berbatov insists he wants to leave, and wants to join United only, then we are fully in contol when it comes to negotiations and we most certainly won't be held to ransom.
Rob86, manchester (15/07/2008 at 13:09)