Dimitar Berbatov set for exit as Manchester United search for pace

Dimitar Berbatov of Manchester United competes with Vurnon Anita of Ajax during the UEFA Europa League tie

Manchester United have begun their search to pep up their attack for next season.

Sir Alex Ferguson has put his worldwide network of scouts on alert to come up with a striker with pace as he prepares to clear the decks of his old guard up front.

Dimitar Berbatovs ticket out of Old Trafford has already been rubber-stamped.

The Reds boss said last week that Uniteds 30.75m club record buy in the summer of 2008 wanted regular first-team football that he couldnt guarantee.

Assault

And now the Bulgarians agent has revealed that Fergie is ready to sell the 31-year-old because he wants to restructure his forward line with the emphasis on speed.

Berbatovs enigmatic unhurried style clearly doesnt fit in with that outlook and is on his way out.

I had three meetings with Alex Ferguson, said Berbatovs agent Emil Danchev.

We accept that he is trying to build a new team, change the playing style, introduce more speed. Manchester Uniteds future does not include Berbatov.

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German club Hannover are expected to set the pace for Berbatov with his former club Bayer Leverkusen also in the running possibly with big spenders Paris St Germain and Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.

Fergie is unlikely to stop at the departure of Berbatov as he looks to revamp his striking department in readiness for an improved assault on Europe next season after the disappointments of the Champions League and Europa League.

Michael Owen has struggled with injuries throughout his Old Trafford career after signing on as a free agent in 2009 and is unlikely to get a look-in during the Reds title run-in after only recently returning to fitness following a three-month absence with a thigh injury.

The 32-year-olds deal runs out in the summer and it would be a surprise if he got another contract.

But that would leave Uniteds senior strikeforce under strength.

Fergie would have a three-pronged attack in Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck, whose average age would be 24.

But the addition of one proven striker in his mid-20s is certain to be on the Reds managers priority list.

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