UNITED QUIT ON BERBATOV

MANCHESTER UNITED are set to pull the plug on their bid to sign Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov.

United have become aware that Spurs are willing to sell the Bulgarian to any club BUT themselves despite the European champions making a £20million bid for the player.

And the asking price could soar to £38m after United’s interest provoked a public spat between Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and Sir Alex Ferguson over alleged tapping-up of Berbatov, with Tottenham lodging a formal complaint with the Premier League.

That prompted the United boss to threaten to take legal action against Levy but the fall-out is now that Berbatov’s desired move to Old Trafford looks doomed.

Fergie has already begun to look at alternative strikers who could act as a foil to Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

Agreed

Among those he has watched have been Ajax hitman Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz — both also chased by Arsenal.

After ignoring overtures from Real Madrid this summer, Tevez will sign a four-year contract with United at some point over the next couple of months.

The Old Trafford club have agreed a £33m fee with Tevez’s owners, who are no longer MSI, for the Argentina forward.

Tevez’s advisor, Kia Joorabchian, explained: “Carlos Tevez’s economic rights are owned by a third party, based offshore — but this is not MSI.”

Tevez’s initial arrival at Old Trafford was dragged out almost until the start of last season as the Premier League satisfied themselves over a loan deal for the striker, even though it was almost identical to the one which saw Javier Mascherano leave West Ham for Liverpool.

But the 24-year-old created a hugely favourable impression at United, leaving Sir Alex in no doubt he wanted to sign the player on a permanent basis.