Exit sign: Dimitar Berbatov days could be numbered as Manchester United eye midfield maestro
Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov is set to be thrust into the shop window between now and January with Sir Alex Ferguson ready to spend the money on the midfield playmaker he has been in the hunt for since the end of last season.
The out-of-favour Bulgarian striker is already a target for Galatasaray and mega-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.
And United are anticipating intense interest in their record 30.75m signing, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Any money they can recoup will be seen as a bonus rather than losing Berbatov for nothing next summer.
Ferguson is yet to offer the 30-year-old a new deal and only a massive U-turn on the part of the United manager can rescue Berbatovs career with the Premier League champions. Ajax starlet Christian Eriksen and Juventus midfielder Milos Krasic are both potential January targets.
Berbatov has been reduced to just one Premier League start this season. He has fallen behind Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck in the United pecking order, with Michael Owen and Federico Macheda also as competition.
But the thigh injury that will keep Owen out for six weeks has cleared the way somewhat, while Welbecks early return from international duty with a muscle strain could see Berbatov come into contention for a starting role against Swansea on Saturday.
With United capable of securing qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League against Benfica next week, he could feature in the final group game at Basle on December 7.
He will also expect to start the Carling Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace on November 30.
They will be further opportunities for him to attract potential suitors unless! he deci des to sit out the remainder of his contract.
Ferguson is spoilt for choice in the striking department and even left Berbatov out of his squad altogether for last seasons Champions League final defeat against Barcelona.
His main concern is finding a creative midfielder to ease the burden on Tom Cleverley.
He spent the summer looking for a replacement for Paul Scholes targeting Wesley Sneijder and Samir Nasri but he ended up empty-handed.
Would you swap Berbatov for a midfielder? Have your say.
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The out-of-favour Bulgarian striker is already a target for Galatasaray and mega-spending Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.
And United are anticipating intense interest in their record 30.75m signing, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Any money they can recoup will be seen as a bonus rather than losing Berbatov for nothing next summer.
Ferguson is yet to offer the 30-year-old a new deal and only a massive U-turn on the part of the United manager can rescue Berbatovs career with the Premier League champions. Ajax starlet Christian Eriksen and Juventus midfielder Milos Krasic are both potential January targets.
Berbatov has been reduced to just one Premier League start this season. He has fallen behind Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck in the United pecking order, with Michael Owen and Federico Macheda also as competition.
But the thigh injury that will keep Owen out for six weeks has cleared the way somewhat, while Welbecks early return from international duty with a muscle strain could see Berbatov come into contention for a starting role against Swansea on Saturday.
With United capable of securing qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League against Benfica next week, he could feature in the final group game at Basle on December 7.
He will also expect to start the Carling Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace on November 30.
They will be further opportunities for him to attract potential suitors unless! he deci des to sit out the remainder of his contract.
Ferguson is spoilt for choice in the striking department and even left Berbatov out of his squad altogether for last seasons Champions League final defeat against Barcelona.
His main concern is finding a creative midfielder to ease the burden on Tom Cleverley.
He spent the summer looking for a replacement for Paul Scholes targeting Wesley Sneijder and Samir Nasri but he ended up empty-handed.
Would you swap Berbatov for a midfielder? Have your say.
Tweet
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