Exclusive: Manchester United set £25m limit for Dimitar Berbatov
Published 00:00 14/07/08 By By David McDonnell
Manchester United have put a £25million limit on their pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov and told Spurs they can take it or leave it.
Berbatov will demand to be allowed to complete a dream move to Old Trafford after United's initial offer of £20m was rejected by the Tottenham board over the weekend.
As revealed by Mirror Sport on July 1, Sir Alex Ferguson revived interest in Berbatov after failing to persuade Spurs to part with the 27-year-old striker last summer and again in January's transfer window.
Berbatov's agent Emil Danchev said: "Manchester United have expressed an interest in Berbatov. I cannot comment on the issue further."
Spurs want £30m for the elegant Bulgarian forward but United are refusing to pay such a high price for a player of Berbatov's age.
United chief executive David Gill has told Spurs they are willing to pay £18m up front, with the rest payable on completion of success-related clauses built into the deal.
Similar deals were struck by United with Everton for Wayne Rooney and Tottenham for Michael Carrick, and the Old Trafford board are keen to do the same with Berbatov, who has been Fergie's No.1 target for the past year.
United, who embark on Thursday for a three-game tour of South Africa, are expected to submit their revised offer for the former Bayer Leverkusen ace within 48 hours and inform Spurs it is their final one.
Despite the £30 m valuation, there is a feeling at White Hart Lane that they would be foolish to turn down £25m for their star player, in the process doubling their money on him.
