After a run of six goals in three games, Berbatov's anonymous display in the defeat at Newcastle a fortnight ago led to him being left out of United's squad for the FA Cup win over Manchester City.
The £30.75m striker is wanted by CSKA Moscow, Anzhi Makhachkala, Bayern Munich and one of his former clubs, Bayer Leverkusen.
Although the 30-year-old was on the bench this weekend, Javier Hernandez was called upon to replace injured goalscorer Danny Welbeck, leaving last season's Golden Boot winner once again kicking his heels.
Even with Michael Owen sidelined, Berbatov's chances appear to be limited and Ferguson's recent assertion that United would take up a one-way option on his contract may not mean much if any transfer fee could be invested elsewhere.
Certainly a player who polarises opinion amongst the United support could not be classed as giving value for money at present, despite his recent hot streak, if Ferguson continues to overlook him, as he has done for virtually 12 months now.
Intrigue also surrounds 18-year-old Ravel Morrison, who has denied the claim Ferguson made on Friday about him rejecting a contract offer.
"I have never 1s (once) turned down a contract off Manchester United," said Morrison on Twitter, fuelling yet more debate about a troubled, but highly-talented teenager, who is still to make a Premier League appearance for United.
Less controversial is Ferguson's assertion that Mame Biram Diouf may leave on loan this month, whilst it remains a mystery to the United boss why no one has enquired about the services of former Poland keeper Tomasz Kuszczak, who is now totally out of the first team picture.
For all the talk of comings and goings, Paul Scholes' arrival thus far is Ferguson's most significant piece of business during the transfer window.
Plenty have claimed it is a regressive step by the Reds.
However, the dressing room seems sincere in its belief Scholes' return is a force for good as United face up to Sunday's trip to Arsenal.
Antonio Valencia told MUTV: "We still have some longer absences like Darren Fletcher and Tom Cleverley so it has given us a bit of respite to have Paul Scholes back.
"It is all right talking about three teams but you can't take out Arsenal and Chelsea, so that is why we have to put our foot to the floor and push as hard as we can."
What do you think? Have your say. Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
After the recent fall out with Morrison I cant see anyway back now, which I personally don’t think is a bad thing, he’s a cross between Joey Barton / Carlos Tevez!
Berbatov, you can’t blame him after the treatment he has had? I cant wait to read his biography when it comes out.
Mame Biram Diouf ????
If he does go than i say "good luck Dimi" sorry it did nt work out to level of skill you have. As for the rest of them good riddance
Berba cab pull a ball out the air like he has fingers on his feet but he needs to mess about with ball for a bit before the word pass enters his brain and when he passes the ball he stabs it with his toes at players feet making it harder to control. These are basic errors which I'm sure he could improve on but they stay in his game and hold up a high octaine team like Utd. I therefore do not mind if he goes. However,what is sad I really think he feels that romance of Utd. He was so excited to
join us. A like for like with Cantona will probably never happen, it was a rare chemistry which concieved that. Cash in by a midfielder.
how can it be a 'regressive' step by the reds.
scholes wanted to come out of retirement and fergie must of thought he was very much part of the squad b4 he retired and we have a number of injurys in midfield,we need a playmaker (apart from giggsy,as giggs is 38now),also he wasnt going to cost us anything all we had to do was re-register him-so y not.
As ferigie says this january window there are no world class players available and those average players that are available their prices are inflated.
We been playing badly last few months but we are top of the table (joint) and when we get our injured absentees back and we hit form as per usual we will be unstoppable-and thats not a biast point that 'is fact'.
I like Berbatov and think he's a quality player. But we shouldn't be paying our fourth choice striker 100,000 a week. He is too good to have only started 3 PL games. If we can get 10m + for him from a foreign club it would be a good move for both parties.
Kitkat & Diouf won't be missed.
The Morrison one is the worst. Arguably the most talented player that our academy has produced in ages and he looks destined to waste all that talent because he would rather play "gangster" with his mates. Hopefully it can be resolved but going off what Fergie said on Friday it looks as though he has finally lost patience with him.
Can't say that I will be too upset if and when Kitkat leaves, there were only two loons (they and us know who they are) on this site who rated them which I think speaks volumes...
From the [admittedly] little I've seen of Diouf I just don't think he will make it at United and can see his loan becoming a permanent move.
Berbatov I'm pretty indifferent about, I've always maintained that he is a great player but for one reason or another it hasn't happened for him at United. It hasn't helped that he and Rooney have never seemed to click because Rooney will always be the first name on the team sheet so Berba won't get a look in.
I don't want Morrison to leave, OK he has had a troubled life so far but he's at the right club to get sorted out. Tell your agent to shape up and get that contract signed Ravel!!!
It will be interesting to see what does happen before the window closes, I can't see many if any players coming in, Gibson leaving is no loss but it will be interesting to see how he performes at everton. He is average at best, as for berbatov, sadly it was plain to see he was not the player we needed when he was bought. Whoever sanctioned it needs their head examining.
Should also get rid of welbeck, evans, rio and carrick
Diof and Kuszczak are good to go though I don't know why we are only sending Diof out on loan...I havn't seen much from him, even when he was playing regularly at Blackburn last season, that shows that he is of Manchester United quality. WHo knows, maybe Ferguson sees something I don't.
As for Morrison, I would tie him down to a new contract and loan him out to a Premiership team and Berbatov I would keep and get rid of Owen instead. That would leave Berbatov, Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck left. A good strikeforce, easy to keep happy.
On the Scholes note, there is no doubt he is still an excellent player and can still do a lot for us this season. The only thing that I have against his return is that it blocks out the young up and comming midfielders who were hoping to prove themselves in his absence. Players such as Anderson, who many people doubt, need games if they are to prove themselves and raise their game. I actually like Anderson (who actually played really well alongside Cleverly, a player of a similar temprement) who needs games to get that consistency in his performances. If Scholes hadn't come back, Anderson, who is the future of the club, would have got more time on the pitch. We may even have won by a bigger margin!
After The Transfer of Gibson to Everton to Fund Scholes' wages I think there are Serious Money Problems at OT.....Looks like the Anti Glazers were right !.
Do not let morison go
Dont let morison go
With gibson finally gone i think we should be looking to get rid of kuszczak, Berbatov, bebe, diouf and morrison who clearly fergie cant control. In the summer we should be looking to get rid of ferdinand, owen, giggs and scholes who are past their best and cant get us to the level of challenging barcelona and also park, anderson, macheda
The most important thing we can do in January is get Pogba tied to a new contract as the players that united should be signing wont be available in January and we need a leftback, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder and a forward who can play up front and wide
P.s
The links of ronaldo returning are gathering pace and getting stronger by the week and with the Beckham rule scrapped by the spanish government so all players pay 54% tax whereas the uk is 50% and i just hope the madrid fans continue to boo ronaldo as it will push him more and more towards a united return and i just pray it happens but with the glazers i doubt it
Berbatov- good ridence. Diouf dont play anyway. keeper i dont see the point in having.
Ravel is the future of our club. Alex wont buy and yet wont keep our top youth. Alex needs to stop lieing to us fans or get out and get someone in who can show us fans more respect and do the job properly
Berb can go. Dont like him
diouf and tomas dont play anyway.
Ravel is the future of our club. This proves sir alex lies to the fans and we deserve better. Alex wont buy yet wont keep our talented youth who is our future. He needs to get his act together or get out and get someone who will give us more.
Hello
The vast majority of Berba's goals do not come against top rate opposition - I'd be happy to keep him as a squad player though. Bye bye Kusczak. Diouf aint gonna make it. Morrison has had plenty of chances but still continues to blow it. As for Pogba, why should we put him in the shop window by playing him? Sign the contract Paul even if it's not as much as you want. If you do your stuff it will be quickly renegotiated.
'Intrigue also surrounds 18-year-old Ravel Morrison, who has denied the claim Ferguson made on Friday about him rejecting a contract offer.'
Not sure Fergie said he (Morrison) had rejected a contract offer - my memory is that Fergie said Morrison's demands were unreasonable - possibly meaning that Morrison wanted to play in the first team.
Funny how Berbaov got the knife - again - for one lackluster performance that was more the fault of the midfield then the forwards, while Rooney can go play like crap for months, not get a sniff of a goal, yet still hold his place in the side.
If we manage to sell Berbatov, Morrison, Diouf and Kuszczak, we'll be alright with some money to spend on a couple of new players.
Would be sad to see berba go. I really think SAF has wasted him these past few years. He led the league in goals last year and has score in alomost every game he's been in this year. The reward for that is to be sold. Diouf, who really cares? ANother one of SAF blunders to go along with Bebe,Kleberson,Bellion,Obertan to name just a few. Lets see Bebe 7mil Vandervart 7 or 8mil was it. Brilliant scouting from United.
Man Utd need to sign a couple of good players asap ... at least one really good midfielder is an absolute must, to act as a playmaker, midfield general, regardless of whether Paul Scholes stays until the summer.
I am staring into Fergie's crystal ball (he had one removed when Ronaldo left):
-Diouf loaned to Bolton
-Kit Kat sold to Germany for 3 steins of Pilsner and a promise to never let him speak to the press again.
-Berbatov sold to Russia for £10m. We play Anzhi next year in the Champions league group and get waxed by him and Etoo.
-Morrison goes to City in the summer and wastes away in the reserves and on the bench for 4 years until he is sold to newly promoted MK Dons.
-Pogba resigns with United after Ravel and his bad attitude are sent packing, but forces a move to Italy.
Of all items the last would bother me the most. I love Berbs but his grace and skill needs to be on a pitch and not in a comfy Audi seat. Like sticking a Rothko in a closet.
Berba will be a loss but wth Rooney Wellbeck and Hernandez we are in good shape up front. Time will tell if Morrison lives up to his hype but if he doesn't want tp do it at OT then so be it. As for KK any one else forget we still had him??
All seems clear to me, sell the 4 mentioned players in the article, add to that the small transfer fee, and wage reduction, from Gibson's departure, and you have the money available to pay off Scholes' and Giggs' wages for the next 18 months.
Anyone want to tell me that's a POSITIVE STEP FORWARD?