SOCCER NEWS:DIMITAR BERBATOV faces an anxious wait in his desire to upgrade to a Champions League club after Tottenham Hotspur indicated yesterday that they do not intend to negotiate with Manchester United or any other interested party.
The Bulgaria striker is eager to play again in Europe's elite competition - he made a substitute's appearance in the 2002 final against Real Madrid, while at Bayer Leverkusen - and, having seen a potential transfer to United blocked last summer, much to his chagrin, he is itching to be granted a big move this time out.
United made an opening bid of €25 million for him last week, which was rejected, and they are expected to return with an improved offer to force the issue.
There is a cool confidence at Old Trafford that the chief executive, David Gill, will be able to close the deal. Yet Tottenham have adopted a typically stubborn stance, suggesting nothing has changed between last summer and this, in that Berbatov is not for sale. The 27-year-old has two years to run on his contract.
Berbatov has so far refused to agitate in public for a transfer. Although his agent, Emil Dantchev, has voiced his client's desire to play at club football's top level, Berbatov has betrayed his frustrations only through his body language.
The stand-off has been fuelled by United's reluctance to be seen to be acting aggressively in pursuit of a player who could form a mouthwatering partnership with Wayne Rooney. United have raged since the end of last season at Real Madrid's courting of Cristiano Ronaldo and, having reported the Spanish champions to Fifa, they intend to do everything by the book regarding Berbatov.
United also feel time is on their side and against Tottenham. The London club are close to the €19-million capture of the midfielder David Bentley from Blackburn Rovers. Should they sign him they will take their spending for this and the previous two transfer windows to more than €125 million. The manager, Juande Ramos, still has other areas in his squad he would like to strengthen and to do so he must sell to generate funds.
United are interested in making Berbatov their only major summer signing and although Alex Ferguson would like to welcome him in time for the club's tour to South Africa - they leave tomorrow - he recognises there is no need for haste. He has experience in dealing with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, who has a reputation for being an awkward negotiator; two summers ago talks over the transfer of Michael Carrick lasted weeks before the midfielder completed his €25 million move to Old Trafford.
Berbatov is with the Tottenham squad in Spain, and he played for a half of the 8-0 training-ground friendly win over the local team Tavernes on Monday. Giovani dos Santos, the new signing, played wide on the left and marked his first appearance with two goals.
Robbie Keane who is also at the centre of transfer intrigue, played a half. The Republic of Ireland captain is being chased by Liverpool but Tottenham have placed a €25-million valuation on him and, as with Berbatov, they will play hardball in any attempt to prise him away.
Guardian Service
MILAN CLOSE IN ON RONALDINHO
AC MILAN are close to completing the signing of Ronaldinho from Barcelona and are expected to announce the purchase of the 2002 World Cup-winner at their Milanello training complex today.
Barcelona are thought to have had to settle for a fee of about €20 million for the Brazilian, a €5 million increase on the bid the Italian club's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, initially made on his arrival in Barcelona but almost €12.5 million less than Manchester City's offer and only a third of the €60 million the Rossoneri tabled last summer - a bid rejected as inadequate.
