Tottenham Hotspur manager Juande Ramos wanted the transfer saga of his Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov to finally end, so that he could make a move for Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan and Blackburn's Paraguayan frontman Roque Santa Cruz, British tablod The Mirror said.

Ramos has decided that the imminent departure of Berbatov would "clear the air at White Hart Lane and allow him to bring in the strikers he needs," the newspaper said.

According to broadsheet The Telegraph, Tottenham's 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on opening weekend "highlighted their need for an increased goal threat." Berbatov's possible departure to Manchester United would leave the Spurs with Darren Bent as the sole genuine striker, unless Spurs signed a replacement before September.

Ramos had been tracking Forlan for a month and was ready to offer Atletico Madrid £14 million (17.7 million euro) for the striker. The club is believed to be ready to sell, but only for £17 million (21.5 million euro), according to TheTelegraph.

Forlan's agent Daniel Bolotnicoff, as quoted by the paper, said: "I don't know anything about Tottenham's supposed interest and him leaving would be very difficult. Forlan is very happy at Atletico." Earlier in August, the player was quoted as saying that "I am pleased that I am still recognised in England, but now my challenge and dream is with Atletico in the Champions League […] I have an excellent opinion of Juande Ramos, but I am not interested in leaving."

Forlan spent two years and a half in England at Manchester United, during which he has often frustrated supporters and scored only 17 goals. He then left for Villareal, where he became one of the deadliest strikers in the Primera Division, and earned a transfer to Atletico in 2007.

Ramos was also hoping to attract Santa Cruz, although Blackburn insisted that he would not leave the club, The Mirror said. "The money will come from the sale of Berbatov, with White Hart Lane chairman Daniel Levy remaining determined to hold out for at least £30 million before he will let the want away Bulgarian complete his "dream" move to [Manchester] United," according to the tabloid.

Meanwhile, United's manager Alex Ferguson continues playing his mind-game tricks, hinting that he did not need to sign Berbatov. On August 19, Irish broadcaster Setanta quoted Ferguson as saying that United were good enough to win the Premier League without signing any new players. In the same time, Berbatov was "worried that United will try to sign Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Holland striker, from Ajax if Tottenham refuse to lower their £30 million asking price," according to The Times.