JUANDE RAMOS last night insisted Tottenham can be a match for the Premier League's top four even if, as expected, they sell Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United.
The Bulgarian's departure would mean Spurs had allowed two of their best players to leave this summer - following Robbie Keane's move to Liverpool - but that, Ramos says, does not send out a "negative message" about their ambition and he believes the team can be successful this season.
Having signed Luca Modric, Giovani dos Santos and David Bentley, Spurs have been spoken of as contenders to break United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal's dominance of the Premier League's summit this coming campaign but doubts have subsequently been cast over their credentials following the departure of Keane and the continuing speculation regarding Berbatov's future.
The two players scored 56 goals between them last season in what was the division's most potent front-pairing. Ramos went to great pains to point out that Berbatov remains a Spurs player - the forward trained with the rest of the squad at their Chigwell training ground yesterday and has been included in the party that travels to Middlesbrough today before the sides' league fixture at the Riverside tomorrow - but a switch to Old Trafford remains inevitable.
Ramos admits he would like to hold on to Berbatov - who he described as a "fantastic player" - but is adamant Spurs can cope without him and continue to challenge for major honours. "I am very happy with the squad that I've got at my disposal and I feel we can challenge anyone at the moment and have the most successful campaign possible," said the Spaniard.
Meanwhile, Michael Owen has virtually no chance of involvement in Newcastle United's opening Premier League fixture at Manchester United on Sunday.
Owen's pre-season plans have been wrecked by a combination of a slow recovery from mumps contracted in late May and a more recent calf strain. Manager Kevin Keegan said: "It's no good trying to kid people. Michael is back in training but I think Manchester United will come a bit early. He just needs a week with the group and we're not going to get that (before Sunday). "
Guardian Service
