adminBerbatov has been left in limbo this summer, with United happy to sell him but unwilling to accept less than £10 million for their record £30 million signing. Now the forward, furious at the way his career has stalled after being marginalised by Ferguson, has accused the club of not being straight with him over their asking price. The 31-year-old was powerless to prevent United triggering a one-way clause in his contract — extending his deal at Old Trafford by 12 months to stop him from leaving on a free at the end of last season.
Ferguson has said he can go, but the striker — due to fly out to South Africa with the rest of the squad yesterday for the start of their pre-season tour — launched a fierce attack on his boss on the eve of the trip.
“Because I am tired of speculation, I am telling you this,” wrote Berbatov on his official Facebook page.
“I read the papers and I see they say £10 million is my price.
“I go and talk with Sir Alex, and he says to me £5m. So who is telling the truth, what do you think? And the truth is, I love this club, but I am not going to be useful to anyone, if I am not playing.
“And I want to play, I want to help.
“But for unknown reasons it’s not going to happen, or my chances will be limited, so it’s better for everyone if we say goodbye. If not, I am professional and I will keep doing everything I can to help my team and my team-mates whenever I have the opportunity to do so.” Berbatov’s agent Emile Dantchev said: “Dimitar just wants to play regular football and in the Champions League next season, either in England or elsewhere in Europe.
“There are clubs interested in Dimitar and we hope United will be flexible (in terms of the price they accept).”
Berbatov made just five Premier League starts last season, as he was pushed down the strikers’ pecking order behind Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.
Bayer Leverkusen and Paris St Germain have been linked with a move for Berbatov but United’s £10m valuation of the former Bulgaria striker has put off many potential buyers, sparking his outburst. Meanwhile, Liverpool are ready to rival Chelsea in the hunt for Arsenal winger Theo Walcott.
Walcott has just a year to run on his contract with the Gunners and could follow Robin van Persie’s lead by seeking a move away from the Emirates Stadium if the club does not boost his wages to £100 000 per week.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to keep hold of Walcott, who was man of the match for England against Sweden at Euro 2012, but some of the club’s board are ready to cash in, according to The Sun. Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is pondering a £15m move and could use money from any sale of Andy Carroll to pay for the deal.
As a pacy winger with an eye for goal, Walcott would fit seamlessly into Rodgers’ preferred playing style.
Target-man Carroll, however, may find opportunities under Rodgers more limited. Rodgers refused to give any assurances about the England frontman’s prospects
when asked last week and many have questioned whether his physical, powerful approach would fit into the intricate passing style favoured by the new boss.
And Liverpool, who signed Italy forward Fabio Borini last Friday for £8m, would be prepared to off-load Carroll if they received either a suitable bid or loan deal that has a commitment to buy at the end of 12 months.
Newcastle had a loan bid for the £35m striker rejected on Sunday.
Walcott (23) has already attracted interest from Chelsea and super-rich Paris Saint-Germain. And out of favour Chelsea star Florent Malouda appears to have priced himself out of a move to Santos. — The Mirror.
Online Reporter