Manchester City FC

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Citizens eye shock Berba bid

01 Sep 2008 - 14:37:13

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Manchester City are reported to have lodged a British record bid to try and snatch wantaway Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov away from Manchester United.

The Citizens' coffers have been boosted by the projected takeover of the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment, who are keen to make a major splash in the transfer market.

Berbatov had looked all but certain to head to Old Trafford, but is now expected to hold talks with Citizens boss Mark Hughes before making a final decision.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos had admitted recently: "If Berbatov goes we will need time to sign a replacement. We want to have the best centre-forward we can possibly get."

Ramos has now added Russia ace Roman Pavlyuchenko to his White Hart Lane squad, smoothing the way for Berbatov to move on.

The 27-year-old Bulgaria international has not featured for Spurs since coming on as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on the opening day of the new season.

He has scored 46 goals in 102 appearances for Spurs since his £10.9million arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2006.