Premier League - Transfer Talk: United narrow search

Eurosport - Wed, 02 Jul 09:02:00 2008

Manchester United are still fluttering their eyelids at Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov.

FOOTBALL Berbatov - 0

The languid, chiselled Bulgaria star would, according to the Daily Mirror, cost a whopping £30 million. He is viewed as the final tweak to the sleek, powerful Ferrari of English football but Spurs are ambitious and will not give up without a fight.

"People think it's easy to buy players nowadays but it's not - money is a big part," Sir Alex Ferguson cooed. "Clubs with ambition don't want to sell their best players so it's not as easy as you think."

Not sure quite why Fergie felt the need to insert "nowadays" when United's success since he became manager has revolved around paying British record fees for players, but expect United to splash the cash on a big-name signing whether Cristiano Ronaldo stays or goes.

It's an interesting signing though - if anything United lack a natural finisher and aerial threat, the kind of striker Luca Toni seemed to be before Euro 2008.

While his class is undoubted, the former Leverkusen man won't bring a particularly different element to fellow touch players Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, but perhaps Fergie has just given up altogether on the conventional, bustling hit-man after the fall-out with Ruud van Nistelrooy and the general falls of Louis Saha. Or maybe it's just one for the ladies.

In case it doesn't work out with Berbatov, another looker - Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz - is being lined up. And if that falls through, Fergie will just hold onto the slightly less girly Hull target Fraizer Campbell as back-up until someone spits their dummy out in January.

The man many feel is the prime candidate for the United job after Ferguson hangs up his hairdryer is Sunderland boss Roy Keane, and he is looking to help revive Darren Bent's fortunes.

The occasional England striker has struggled since moving from Charlton to Tottenham and will be a much easier jewel to prise away from North London.

Keane is desperate for a striker as Kenwyne Jones could be out until the New Year and number one target Dani Guiza is being coveted by much bigger clubs following Spain's Euro 2008 triumph. Oh, and the rest of his forwards are a bit pants.

Aston Villa and Blackburn are also loitering with intent for a player that cost £16.5 million only a year ago but is likely to be available for around £12 million.

One assumes Bent's form will improve when he leaves London's busy, busty nightlife to find a slightly smaller pool of girlfriends to swap with fellow players.

The Black Cats will raise some of the cash by flogging Roy O'Donovan and Ross Wallace to Championship or SPL sides, while Rovers boss Paul Ince is trying to convince Spurs, Manchester City and Liverpool target David Bentley not to quit Ewood Park.

Spurs, oddly, look to be in pole position for Bentley as - despite not being as good or as rich as City or Liverpool - they actually have unfrozen, available, legal money to spend, and Aaron Lennon to throw in as a somewhat light makeweight.

White Hart Lane flop Kevin Prince-Boateng's brief love affair with the Spurs bench looks set to come to an end. The Ghetto Kid was supposed to join Aston Villa in January, but that fell through and now he looks set to return to Germany with Borussia Dortmund preparing a loan with a view to a transfer.

The ongoing Xabi Alonso to Juventus saga, meanwhile, shows no sign of finding a quick conclusion as Liverpool's Spain midfielder sits back and sups his sangria after winning Euro 2008.

"I've no idea," he said of the ongoing interest.

"Right now I'm just thinking about going on holiday, sitting back and relaxing. I'll be able to think about all that has gone on and what's going to happen regarding my future later on.

"We'll see what happens when I get back."

Both Juventus and Liverpool will be keen to seal the deal sooner rather than later though - the Bianconeri to get their pre-season on track and the Reds to fund a bid for Gareth Barry, who has been told by Villa fans to expect boos in pre-season friendlies.

Premiership new-boys and soon-to-be-old boys Hull are looking to cherry-pick the best of the Championship as they beef up their squad for a sabbatical in the big league.

Peter Halmosi, Plymouth's admittedly rather good left-winger, is the latest target for the ambitious Tigers, who missed out on signing comedy Aussie Christian Vieri, presumably on account of there not being a Walkabout in Hull.

Argyle laughed-off Hull's initial bid - which included a bonus should they avoid the drop (ha!) - and a £1.75 million fee is now mooted by the Daily Mirror.

Oh, and to hedontiger, who was upset at yesterday's mild jibe about Hull - actually I have been there. It's marginally better than Blackburn, Stoke, Sunderland, Wigan and Bolton, for sure. But is still kind of rubbish if you, like Vieri, have lived in Milan, Madrid, Turin, Bergamo, Rome and, um, Sydney. Er, on second thought, scratch Sydney.

The player regarded by many to be the worst defender in the Premier League (there is even a Facebook group with 13,000 members called "I am better than Titus Bramble so why am I not a Premiership footballer?") will not be ditched by Wigan - yet.

Latics boss Steve Bruce has gone on record to say that Bramble actually does have talent but must cut out the frequent, dreadful errors.

And he wants to make sure that Paul Scharner doesn't elope to Fulham before he offloads the man "affectionately" referred to by Newcastle fans as "tight-ar*e".

Eurosport

Comment 54 - 73 of 73

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  1. titus bramble. so funny. how on earth can this guy still not only be in football but the premier league, and how much does he earn a week.lol.he must love it. well we cant say he dosent entertain us. afterall that it what football is about.

    From alificomc, on Thu 3 Jul 10:42PM

  2. france may have had a bad euro08 but they have 3 of the most promising youngsters around...ben arfa gone to marseille but nasri and benzema still available...get the up on it premier league. you know we love our french players....cantona, henry. et al. come on.

    From alificomc, on Thu 3 Jul 10:37PM

  3. Bramble,Titus Newcastle:
    Considering the training processes we have within UK,and with all the major Players within that set-up.How on earth this did this guy ever get to play for a Premiership Team.I have seen better performances on the local field on a Sunday afternoon after a night on the Pop.His Fairy Godmother must have great Karma !!!

    From stevejgoss, on Wed 2 Jul 9:01PM

  4. berbatov is @#$%! man u is @#$%! they have a relation ship! @#$%! and @#$%!

    From ibrahim_arsenal, on Wed 2 Jul 7:31PM

  5. sorry taken so long to reply "A" fan, still laughing! you promise so much, you give so little. And as for whinging, check out your "didnt see that manager"

    From r.bailey165, on Wed 2 Jul 6:43PM

  6. berbatov is a nice player, but why would he want to go to a club to be the third choice forward? isn't there another big club with a greater need than man utd? arsenal and liverpool would both have more important starts for him. same thing for santa cruz ~ why would they make moves to clubs with higher rated forwards? if it's simply to put on the shirt of a big club, why don't they go keep nicolas anelka company on the chelsea substitutes' bench? rooney does get nicked up a lot, but who wants to be the supersub for important matches at the end of the season?

    and what exactly is wrong with making fun of christian vieri?

    From master shake, on Wed 2 Jul 10:37AM

  7. Fergie beef up your midfield. Chelsea have purchased the services of Deco why cant Man U get Ronaldinho

    From taroomuz, on Wed 2 Jul 8:53AM

  8. 'United' Best Club in Europe probably was true in 1966 after Bobby Moore Had Lifted the FA, European Cup Winners and World Cups in successive seasons however once West Ham United have signed Ballack that reputation may well be restored :-)

    From Art T, on Wed 2 Jul 8:52AM

  9. Reda - What has Christian Vieri got to do with this article? The only reason he was brought up was to take the piss. Just goes to show how pathetic the reporting on eurosport is because they have nothing better to talk about. It seems that people like you are those that were day-dreaming in class making up your own stories instead of writing about the said subject, so why don't YOU go back and take some English lessons you half-wit ;)

    From blasos1983, on Wed 2 Jul 8:47AM

  10. sack buying berba go for benzema the kid is class shows no fear, and would be a great addition to the team i could see him at OT that would be great, give his team Saha as part payment

    From jonah662, on Wed 2 Jul 8:36AM

  11. hey r.bailey

    we propably have more cups than u overall so shut it. It

    Ps:berbatov isnt a bad player,he's a whinger a spurs player basically

    From risker (arsenalfan), on Wed 2 Jul 8:04AM

  12. Come on RONALDO BIG BUCK are waiting for you at REAL MADRID..Don't care what MU fan might say..LOL!!!!.RONALDO...REAL MADRID...RONALDO ..REAL MADRID....

    From Eddy A, on Wed 2 Jul 7:26AM

  13. Yes Dimitar Berbatov & Roque Santa Cruz are quite amazing players. They will certainly do good with the United squad. I think The Chelsea management should learn from United.......... instead of spending money on Skillful individuals like Deco and Ronaldino Chelsea should also look for the future.......... and make stars rather than buying Stars.

    From yashwant r, on Wed 2 Jul 7:21AM

  14. I believe Berbatov will get more than he asked for if he joins Manchester United. Firstly, a world class team that will provide even more service for him to realize his full potential, that alone should be enough to prise him from Spurs. And most importantly he'll be able to compete in the World's Most Prestigious Competition the UEFA Champion's League. And for Ronaldo, he should at least stay for one more season with United, joining Real this early will only affect him in terms of his game. He is NOT INDISPENSABLE!!! He still have much to improve as a player and United have a a lot to offer to his game. Man United are one of the top exponents of the Beautiful Game and I don't see why many players are choosing to go Spain's Barca or Real.

    From mhtang85, on Wed 2 Jul 6:32AM

  15. Berbatov Is Good Player.His Ability To Control & Protect Ball Is Quite Amazing.I Think,Ferguson Should Keep On Going Take Berbatov To Old Trafford.About Ronaldo,If He Think About Money,Just Let Him Go.If He Think About His Future,Just Stay At Old Trafford.

    From wak y, on Wed 2 Jul 4:49AM

  16. If ronaldo stay he'll bring man u down. man u is better off ronaldo. imean come on whemn van nistelrooy left united 4 real, it didn't affect united's perfomance so wat different ronaldo could be. perhaps in exchange of ronaldo , ferguson should ask 4 sergio ramos n robinho in exchange. these 2 will inject a new life in united.

    - i'm on your side. very good opinion! sneijder also can bring a big impact to MU.. -

    From coldfirez82, on Wed 2 Jul 4:05AM

  17. please..please.. please sign a great player nowadays to attract other players to join MU. ronaldo is the one and only big asset that MU had. sign a big star to raise the club popularity..!!!

    From coldfirez82, on Wed 2 Jul 3:56AM

  18. If ronaldo stay he'll bring man u down. man u is better off ronaldo. imean come on whemn van nistelrooy left united 4 real, it didn't affect united's perfomance so wat different ronaldo could be. perhaps in exchange of ronaldo , ferguson should ask 4 sergio ramos n robinho in exchange. these 2 will inject a new life in united.

    From crazyguy_no7, on Wed 2 Jul 3:47AM

  19. Berbie is class. I've said so for several years, and I would love the chance to cheer him on as a Red Devil! He's like a more skillful Saha (although not as quick). At any rate, his goal scoring ability is unquestioned, and United should get him.

    C'MON, Dimitar! Join the best club in Europe! UNITED, UNITED!!!

    From United!!, on Wed 2 Jul 1:45AM

  20. You do get some idiotic comments on here

    From Sean, on Wed 2 Jul 12:36AM
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