Berbatov: Staying At Spurs…For Now
Times: Dimitar Berbatov has been offered an increase in his wages to £60,000 a week, which would make him the highest-paid player at Tottenham Hotspur, but there remain question marks over his future. The forward was the subject of an inquiry from Manchester United, who are likely to resume their interest in January or next summer.
Emil Dantchev, the forward’s representative, hopes that the revised contract will be signed in mid-September. Berbatov earns about £44,000 a week but has been in talks about a rise since May, when Robbie Keane signed an improved deal.
There remain a few sticking points, but Dantchev would not comment on whether an escape clause would be inserted in the new contract, which will not be lengthened from the three years it has left to run.
Reports in Bulgaria suggest that Dantchev met with Manchester United as recently as two weeks ago. That came shortly after Berbatov’s relationship with Martin Jol, the Tottenham manager, came under scrutiny after a frank discussion about the rotation system. “There has been a lot of speculation, but all I can say now is that this saga has strengthened Jol’s position and that the club board decided to raise my weekly salary, not by much, but there is a rise,” Berbatov said.
United have ruled out another attempt to sign Berbatov this summer. “I think this is unlikely,” Berbatov said. “First, no one from United has talked to either me or my agent and secondly my club hasn’t received any official transfer request. So I think there is nothing to discuss on this subject. I alone chose to play at Tottenham last season and I remain at Tottenham on my own bidding, at least for now, while my contract is in force.
“No one said that United are not interested in me at all or in the price they need to pay for me, but what is known is that there won’t be any transfer this fall [autumn].”
