Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Blackburn Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz as their preferred replacement for Dimitar Berbatov if the Bulgarian striker moves to Manchester United.
The Premier League champions are understood to have tabled a £20m bid for Berbatov on Friday and reports that Spurs are monitoring Santa Cruz's availability would seemingly indicate that they are resigned to selling the want-away Berbatov.
While Spurs rejected United's £20m offer, The Daily Mail reports that Sir Alex Ferguson 'is confident that, given the striker's burning desire for a return to Champions League football, an offer of around £25m will persuade Spurs to do business, with the fee possibly rising to £30m with performance related add-ons'.
With Darren Bent expected to leave, most probably for Sunderland, and Liverpool interested in recruiting Robbie Keane, Spurs would be loath to sell Berbatov without signing at least one other alternative striker. The Mail claims that Juande Ramos has made 'Santa Cruz his top priority', but Spurs could face competition for his services from north London rivals Arsenal if Emmanuel Adebayor leaves the Gunners.
Interestingly, The Mail adds that 'Ramos is believed to favour playing a lone striker with three men in support' and 'plans to make Luka Modric and Giovanni dos Santos two of the three and wants Espanyol forward Luis Garcia or Blackburn's David Bentley to complete the trio'.
The Premier League champions are understood to have tabled a £20m bid for Berbatov on Friday and reports that Spurs are monitoring Santa Cruz's availability would seemingly indicate that they are resigned to selling the want-away Berbatov.
While Spurs rejected United's £20m offer, The Daily Mail reports that Sir Alex Ferguson 'is confident that, given the striker's burning desire for a return to Champions League football, an offer of around £25m will persuade Spurs to do business, with the fee possibly rising to £30m with performance related add-ons'.
With Darren Bent expected to leave, most probably for Sunderland, and Liverpool interested in recruiting Robbie Keane, Spurs would be loath to sell Berbatov without signing at least one other alternative striker. The Mail claims that Juande Ramos has made 'Santa Cruz his top priority', but Spurs could face competition for his services from north London rivals Arsenal if Emmanuel Adebayor leaves the Gunners.
Interestingly, The Mail adds that 'Ramos is believed to favour playing a lone striker with three men in support' and 'plans to make Luka Modric and Giovanni dos Santos two of the three and wants Espanyol forward Luis Garcia or Blackburn's David Bentley to complete the trio'.
No comments:
Post a Comment