Berbatov deadlock

August 29, 2008

Dimitar Berbatov

UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson is "less optimistic" about prising Dimitar Berbatov's away from Tottenham.

The Reds - who were drawn against Celtic in this season's Champions League group stages again and face Zenit St Peterburg in the Super Cup tonight - are finding it hard to make a breakthrough in the long-running transfer saga.

With Monday's deadline looming, Fergie admitted: "I'm less optimistic so we'll carry on.

"I've no idea what's going on. It's very hard to get communication with some people in life."

United chief executive David Gill added: "Clearly there's not long to go. We're working on it but I've been doing transfers for many, many years and know nothing is done until it's done."

Gill is looking forward to facing Celtic again as champions - the two sides last met in the competition in 2006-07 - and said: "It's a great event, their passionate fans and our passionate fans. You get a tingle in your spine when you see the flashbacks to Moscow. Everyone at the club is very motivated."

Do you think Berbatov will join the Reds? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (27) |

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Red Dawn (29/08/2008 at 10:24)

The Bulgarian Standard is today reporting that an agreement has been reached and the deal will be finalised once the transfer of Pavlyuchenko is sealed.

£25 million plus add ons depending on his success they are saying.

David Gill did say they were working on it (not mentioning names), but we'd all just have to wait, so perhaps Spurs securing Pavlyuchenko is indeed the key.

Drifter, Mancunia (29/08/2008 at 10:32)

We do not think we need him Saha & Ole had little to do for us last year. Lets give the fringe playes a chance thats what I think.

stevi, france (29/08/2008 at 10:36)

The Times is saying more or less the same thing
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article4630065.ece

A Manc and blue (29/08/2008 at 10:42)

Whip-round for taggart

peterflog, Ashton under lyne (29/08/2008 at 10:54)

The situation with United's transfer policy, or lack of it, is about finance and the credit squeeze.
Remember if they buy they will have to borrow the money, at currently high interest rates. Berbatov at say £28m with a 4 year contract at say £5m a year with little or no sell on value because of his age, will cost nearly £15m per annum. It's a lot of money even to United.
Is he worth that?
The difference in winning and say finishing second in the league and European Cup is probably only a total of £8m. Is this United's gamble.

emilios1980, athens (29/08/2008 at 11:00)

i wish you have right about that.i hope waiting tottenham to complete the transfer and then buy the berba..only 3 days left!!!

keithmat (29/08/2008 at 11:31)

Should gte Huntelaar instead, younger and more prolific. Wouldn't mind Henry either still got class, showed when he played 10mins agaisnt us last year.

tooth&claw, manchester (29/08/2008 at 11:42)

peterflog, wrong actually. Players are paid for out of revenue and just about all premier league transfers are paid for in installments. But good guess, keep trying.

bobbydazzler (29/08/2008 at 11:51)

difficult to take jibe from a manc and a blue.

which club
has just cadged 6m from former chairman to meet wages.

borrowed 30m against future earnings.

worried that if chairman is found guilty he will have to sell club.

rossco(true blue down under), perth(western australia) (29/08/2008 at 11:53)

How Sad u rags r, there is barely ever more than 10 comments per news page on the men site and that showcases just how much passion u lot really have for ur beloved club. You may always be winning more trophies and be richer than us but you will never ever have the unwavering support of which MCFC has,period. Also hope u get that lazy git Berbatov as Kompany,richards and co will have a field day marking him out of the game at coms...

Magne Blokhus (29/08/2008 at 11:54)

Arsjavin has not yet signed for anyone. Perhaps should we try to sign him....

stevi, france (29/08/2008 at 12:07)

@peterflog- you sound like another anti Glazer basher.... I think the difference between winning or losing would be significantly more than 8 million, I think getting to the knockout stage of the champions league is worth 10 million, then there's new sponsorship deals, merchandise etc. it all tends to have a knock-on effect when you're successful.

One of the things SAF has always done is have a value in his head for a player, yes he will compromise but he won't pay what he feels is over the odds and there have been many times when he's walked away from a deal for those reasons.

@keithmat Henry??? .....as normal against us there was no end result...Arsenal might want to take our excess baggage but we certainly don't want any of theirs...and as good a player as Huntelaar is, he isn't Berbatov and so wouldn't complement other players like Rooney & Tevez.........

No I think it has to be Berbatov or nothing..and if Spurs are stupid enough to cut their noses off the spite their faces so be it.......we'll get him for nothing next year!

bobbydazzler (29/08/2008 at 12:15)

rossco us sad reds get behind out team and go and watch them to the tune of 75000 per game.

last time i checked that was 38,000 more of us than you lot.

would do you good to have a real look at your posters and you will see that the vast majority of them are not from manchester and therefore dont go the the games. because as you well know cities matchgoing support all live within the confines of the city. you being just another example of the obsessive fantasy league jokers who puport to support the bitters.

Demo, Glossop (29/08/2008 at 12:56)

rossco - there are several reasons not many united fans have commented on this

1) most of us work
2) this is the billionth story about the berba transfer so we are sick of commenting
3) there is nothing left to say on the subject

Chris,, Ireland (29/08/2008 at 13:00)

rossco(true blue down under), perth(western australia). That statement about the amount of comments per news story is ridiculous. This is one website. You think every United fan should log on to it? You do know there are countless other fan sites. Including manutd.com which has a forum which you dont have to wait for your comments to be approved. Alot of people prefer that you know. Stupid comment.

D.S, Salford (29/08/2008 at 13:14)

Rosco (true blue)...guess what i saw in HMV the other day? a city dvd with 200 GREATEST CITY THROW INNS, cool huh...was suprised to be fair. peterflog, Ashton under lyne....you still havent got over urself have you? oh then again FC wanna-be United havent got a column here have they? why though? hmmm probably cus they dont even have a ground to play on. GET A LIFE!!!

Michio, County Louth (29/08/2008 at 13:18)

rossco(true blue down under), perth(western australia).

Talk's cheap, as you should know.

BrewDevil, Clemson,USA (29/08/2008 at 14:17)

rossco(true blue down under),

you should go out and take your brain off the barbie and stick a fork in it - it's well past done.

there's a simple reason for all the posters on the blue side....Misery Loves Company.

stevi, france (29/08/2008 at 14:46)

oh dear my mistake...Spurs are completely stupid, Damien Comolli is claiming they're hopeful of keeping Berba.....why would you want to keep someone who wants to move so much he's put in a transfer request.....maybe he's not aware of that yet :p

tooth&claw, manchester (29/08/2008 at 14:57)

stevi, the transfer request may just be newspaper talk.

Drifter, Mancunia (29/08/2008 at 15:51)

Peterflog, United pay for players on installments or bring players in on loan that is why we owe millions to other clubs. It does look as though the credit is drying up though cos its obvious Spurs want the cash. I do not like these kind of players anyway that is why I would bring on the reserves would be my prefered choice.

bobbyc, manchester (29/08/2008 at 16:48)

Unwavering support rosco Ozzie true Bertie?Is that why city never fill wastelands? 36250 v West Ham ,17000 v Midgetmen danes?Seems one or two thousand +waver at Bertieland!

Neil Mcnab's Moustache, manchester (29/08/2008 at 17:13)

A club on the slide this one, no signings, no strikers, no managerial skill now that your Queerios has gone. It will be hilarious watching your relegation struggles. Have you not bid for Neves, Henry, Zabaleta or Millito or haven't you the funds? lol

bobbyc, manchester (29/08/2008 at 21:44)

whiskery dimwit McNab, city have been on an roller coaster slide for 33 years,and a Chelsea reject wont make any difference just you see.

keen bgood (01/09/2008 at 01:43)

Fergie please do not send Campbell as a makeweight.

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