Berbatov wants dream move

The Bulgaria striker, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United for much of the summer, did not allude to Sir Alex Ferguson's side by name, but with the Red Devils believed to be inching ever closer to agreeing a fee for the striker, the implications of his words are clear.

"I'm now in Tottenham but no one can disagree with me wanting to follow my dream," he told The Times ahead of his country's midweek friendly with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Ferguson has not made a formal offer for the player since seeing a first bid of £20.5million turned down, but with Cristiano Ronaldo still out injured and Carlos Tevez missing due to a bereavement, United's shortcomings up front were laid bare against Newcastle in Sunday's 1-1 draw.

That means Tottenham's hand is as strong as it has been since negotiations began and a deal now looks certain to be completed before the end of the month.

Emil Dantchev, the 27-year-old's agent, said: "We have two more weeks until the end of the transfer window and I think this will be the most important week. I read Alex Ferguson's statement that he wants another striker and I hope that this striker is Dimitar Berbatov."

The player himself, meanwhile, has already started steeping himself in United folklore after he took his demotion to the bench with noticeable frustration.

"If I had been laughing when I was on the bench, people would say I was an idiot," he said.

"Eric Cantona never smiled, but I don't know if anyone ever asked him why he didn't look happier."