HATCHET MAN: The only things rotten this transfer window are Tottenham's idle Berba threats

Not in so many words of course. No, instead they have tried to imply the opposite by using the age old threat of making the Bulgarian ‘rot in the reserves’ rather than allow him to move to Manchester United.

But the threat has become so hollow over the years that in the football lexicon it should be redefined to mean: this situation has reached the end game.

Almost a year ago, previous Spurs manager Martin Jol was suggesting that Jermain Defoe would be left to rot in the reserves if he didn’t sign a new contract.

Reservist? Dimitar Berbatov

Departed: Jermain Defoe

As always, it was no more than hot air. There was no signature and no retribution in the stiffs.

Defoe appeared three times the same month and continued to play (mostly as the substitute he had already become established as) right up until his January move to Portsmouth.

Already in this window, have suggested Frank Lampard would rot if he didn’t sign a new deal and United have threatened Cristiano Ronaldo. Please. How many world-class players have been devalued with prolonged punishment in the reserves?

Berbatov will not be dropped into the second string whatever happens and leaving him out of last Saturday’s game against Sunderland is not proof to the contrary. It was a last throw of the dice - and it had the benefit of ensuring he didn’t get injured!

PS. Alex Ferguson is almost as disingenuous. He is making noises about giving up on a move for Berbatov in this transfer window and making do.

Who is he kidding? Ronaldo is out until November and United have only scored twice in their two league games this season.

Their marksman on both occasions was Darren Fletcher and the Scot’s previous record was seven goals from 107 appearances - fearsome.