Soccer

United remain patient over Berbatov

Manchester United are prepared to play the waiting game in their pursuit of Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov

Tue Jul 15 2008 - 01:00

Manchester United are prepared to play the waiting game in their pursuit of Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov. United depart on their pre-season tour of South Africa on Thursday but are not going to be rushed into paying over the odds for the 27-year-old.

It is understood United have made a bid for the Bulgarian striker worth €25million plus add-ons and given his barely-disguised desire to move to Old Trafford, are hopeful an agreement will be reached at some stage.

United have previous experience of protracted transfer dealings with Tottenham when Michael Carrick moved to Manchester in 2006.

That saga lasted several weeks and that situation could be repeated given Spurs have valued Berbatov at €35m and United are adamant they will not pay anything like that sum for the striker.

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Berbatov's arrival would be likely to lead to the departure of Louis Saha - the Frenchman could even travel the other way if Tottenham are interested.

Berbatov's agent Emil Dantchev has said the striker is keen to play Champions League football again - he made a substitute's appearance in the 2002 Champions League final against Real Madrid while at Bayer Leverkusen.

Former Spurs manager Martin Jol has also commented that the player made little secret of his desire to move to Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, United will fly to Africa on Thursday afternoon with their first match against Kaizer Chiefs at the Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, on Saturday.

Alex Ferguson's side then face Orlando Pirates in Durban on Tuesday, July 22nd, before playing one of the two South Africa sides again in the Vodacom Challenge final at Loftus Stadium, Tshwane - previously called Pretoria - on Saturday, July 26th.

In the same pre-season tournament two years ago United lost to Kaizer Chiefs on penalties in the final.

There will be a hectic end to the tour with a friendly the following night in Abuja, Nigeria, against Portsmouth on the way back.

Ferguson told MUTV: "The games in South Africa aren't easy games. It's a good, competitive level, so that should bring us on a good deal.

"I think by the time we get to the start of the season we'll be really ready."