Sir Alex Ferguson hasn’t mentioned Dimitar Berbatov’s name, for fear of incurring the wrath of Daniel Levy, however has suggested the deal could be off.
“I’m feeling less optimistic right now,” said Ferguson. “We are looking at something, but if it doesn’t come off then we will carry on as we are.”
Does this mean the deal is off or is Fergie just playing hard to get?
Berbatov has almost made his situation at Spurs untenable, with his persistent comments about wanting to leave as well his recent United shirt signing stunt (which RoM readers are currently split over).
Spurs lost their opening game of the season with Berbatov featuring for just 25 minutes, with Darren Bent playing as Spurs’ only striker, and their goal coming from the head of opposition defender Robert Huth.
With limited striking options, after selling Robbie Keane to the ‘disgraceful’ Liverpool, Spurs are in a bit of a tricky situation. Do they keep a player who is desperate to leave and who isn’t afraid to throw a temper tantrum? Or do they sell him on to a club even if their financial evaluation hasn’t been met?
There is just a week remaining until the transfer window closes, meaning if Spurs were to sell, they would be short on time finding a replacement. They have been linked with Diego Forlan, who had a poor stint in the Premiership with United before making a success of his career in Spain, although no doubt Atletico Madrid will want big money for the striker they spent £16 million on a year ago, scoring 23 goals last season.
Ferguson could be expressing his doubt over a deal to put Spurs on their toes, who I imagine must be pretty keen to get rid of Berbatov if the price is right, or it could be a genuine concern from our manager, who sees our changes of signing the Bulgarian slipping away.
Do you think a deal with be agreed on upon before September 1st?
As a spurs fan I fully expect you to sign him. I also expect you to pay full whack. Reckon you definately need him (or another top class striker) or else Chelskov will win the title and maybe more.
Getting a bit less optimistic about it myself. I’d like us to, and had a feeling that, we’d sign andrei Arshavin. He’s not a Berbatov but still a has great ability and like Tevez and Rooney can adapt well to many positions. This could work in out favour when it comes to our attacking formation but obviously, we’d ask do we really need another second forward before a dedicated finisher.
The answer is no, but that’s just me thinking outside of Spurs because I am bored with it. We were getting excited at the prospect of having Berbatov last week, but Levy is a stubborn as well as silly person who would cut his nose off just to spite his face and then read in the Sun that his face wasn’t to blame after all.
I’m massively disappointed that a manager of Fergie’s calibre would put all his efforts into ONE signing and not have any options, thats disappointing. So I guess all the talks of 1-4options and 48hrs surprise was just Fergie B.S’ing us fans.
my understanding is that Fergie is willing to pay the asking price but the Glazers won’t sanction the purchase
I agree that it is insane that United had no plans. It is almost as Fergie and the other powers at be went on vacation and really didn’t think or plan at all. Then we returned to the same target Fergie has been after for 2 years. I believe other options exist, Huntelaar and Roque (pre his new deal with Blackburn) for two examples.
I am not that upset because I think we have enough cover and skill in the forward position. We would have way more with a new striker but I don’t know if its necessary to win the title. I know people disagree with me about this but thats my thoughts. Either way I hope Fergie can get his man because falling behind early is not an option, I also think the longer this goes on it hurts the moral of the team which has to be somewhat hurt after a tough summer of rumors and speculation.
I seriously do not know what to think anymore. We’ve spent the whole summer conjuring different scenarios and reasons behind the going-ons, but the truth is, we just don’t know. Only those men at the top do, and we’ll find out in a weeks’ time if Berba will be at United this year.
Positive news though, Manucho has apparently got a work-permit!! That’s one extra striker to our strikeforce, so cheer up lads!! If Fergie decides to leave Berba be this season, I’d be totally fine with it, just as far as we get Benzema nxt season!!
I doubt it will happen now, Spurs have every right to demand as much money as they want and its up to us to either pay up or move along. I think the best plan would be to just hold on to the money and hopefully next summer make a big splash with two strong signings. I just dont see the point in making a panic buy for over 25 mil just for one or two years of service. Lets make a buy for over 25 mil for Benzema or Aguerro who can give four or five years of service. Considering we can convince them to join of course.
And Gabriel, where did you hear your Manucho permit information? Manutd.com isnt mentioning anything…
No way that Spurs want to sell Berbatov to a club that has repeatedly broken Premier League rules by illegally tapping up players like Berbatov, Carrick, Rooney, Tevez etc
name
You clearly have no idea about how football is run nowadays. “Tapping up” is an outdated a ridiculous concept that few mention and less recognize. If your club hasn’t “tapped up” a player then chances are they’re not a professional club. Get over yourself, because nobody else cares except for you.
I hear manucho has got a work permit!!
Drew Vader, the Manucho news was on sky sports news(Tv), but not on their site or United’s. Weird, I know!!
As per the Benzema situation, like I said in my earlier post, i’d rather utilise the strikers we have now, and get Benzema or anyone else that’s young nxt yr. In the meantime, we could do with another winger, preferrably a young and promising one, who can slot into the team or play understudy at the mo.
We should have bit the bullet and paid spurs what they wanted for berbatov or got someone else in before the pl season kicked off now we are fannying around and the whole thing is a mess.
I’d rather move and leave spurs with an unhappy player and get someone else in, lets see that smug clown levy then, as for tapping up people maybe spurs fans should speak to palace and sevilla supporters before they take the moral high ground
He is not coming I think thats pretty clear so lets forget it. We have’nt even signed Tevez yet who is going to cost over 30 million pounds, we cant afford both. So lets get behind the lads that did it for us last season.
The more interesting news is that Benzema has now changed his tune about playing in England.
For me – and SAF ??? – Karim Benzema is really the main choice to round out an attacking front of Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani, and Tevez. Berbatov was always a second-choice so if that means playing hardball with Spurs then that’s too bad for them because Berbatov can buy himself out of his contract next summer. He might never attain his “dream move” to UTD but, really, he has only himself to blame for signing with Tottenham two years ago – what goes around comes around ???????
Contrary to the supposed “insight” offered by punters who continue to claim that UTD “don’t have the money” – what about last year’s prize money ? what about a very large operating profit that covered all interest payments on the very, very large debt ?? Some of these punters seem to believe that one of the world’s biggest sports organizations should be run according the economics of a corner store. It just doesn’t work that way – indeed, as SAF said a while back, the debt might be large but so, too, are the Glazers pockets and they would make a HUGE PROFIT if they sold the club tomorrow.
The problem Fergy faces is that he has to bring in real quality since the level of the squad is soooo high. That means that bargain-basement shopping is out and the targets that are identified carry not only big, big price-tags but also complicated purchase options.
I think we should trust SAF in what he is doing and I’m sure he will sign a top striker before the transfer market closes down; even if that striker is not the sulky Berba.
the last thing i heard about manucho (apart from getting work permit) , was he injured his knee on last game for greek side, can anyone confirm?, other than that, we have not been kept up to speed with his progress into 1st team…..would still like berbatov, but manucho will do.
Manucho, Manucho, Manucho – what about Frazier Campbell ? He did nothing to disappoint in his first appearance in the EPL for UTD last weekend – and the slot that is open when the big guns are all healthy is for the “fourth” option, not the main man. You never know but maybe LouisLouisHaHa might even get in a game or two, coming off the bench.
MANUCHO METATRASAL INJURY..OUT FOR 2 MONTHS+….GOT 5 WEEKS TO GO BEFORE RECOVERING