The absence of Tottenham's Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov from the launch of the club's new kit left “little doubt that he will not be wearing it next season,” Daily Mail said on May 8. Although it was still  unclear where the Bulgarian was headed, his move was likely to shape this summer's transfer market in England's top division.

Berbatov’s move “[promised] to be one of the most significant deals of the transfer window. Rumours were rife yesterday that Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra was lining up a British record £32 million (40.7 million euro) offer,” Daily Mail said.

But with Berbatov keen to prove himself at the highest level in the Champions League, the Citizens have only an outside chance of landing the Bulgarian striker, who is the fifth highest scorer in the English Premier League with 15 league goals and 23 overall for the campaign.

A move to the red side of Manchester to join United looked more likely. The Red Devils missed a chance to sign the Bulgarian in 2006, when he joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen for £10.9 million (13.9 million euro), but was now ready to pay twice that much after Berbatov’s agent said the player would only consider Old Trafford if he stays in England.

However, United would not be held up for ransom, with the Daily Express newspaper saying the club “was ready to turn to long-term target Klaas-Jan Huntelaar if Tottenham are successful in creating a big-money auction for Dimitar Berbatov.”

Tottenham was so desperate to sell Berbatov abroad that they asked £35 million (44.5 million euro) form English clubs and £10 million (12.7 million) less from foreign ones for the Bulgarian star, according to Daily Express. “With AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid all interested, Spurs are confident the bidding will pass the £25 million (31.8 million euro) mark.”

Daily Mail, however, believes that United have the money to sign the Bulgarian, despite the £58 million (73.8 million euro) loss for last year that the club announced earlier this week.

"Spain and Italy are also options, but Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to be at the front of the queue after being told he will have money to spend. Capturing Berbatov would mean that Ferguson's rivals could go for his other targets — Ajax striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Sevilla's Luis Fabiano and Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz — while United would almost certainly put Louis Saha on the market,” the newspaper said.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was ready to allocate £100 million (127.3 million euro) for four players, Berbatov among them. If the club fails to attract Berbatov, it would try for Palermo’s Amauri and David Villa of Valencia. Villa, on the other hand, was the ideal replacement for Berbatov at Totenham, as Valencia was desperate to sell the striker for £16 million (20.4 million euro) to fix its finances. Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o was the other player Spurs were targeting when, rather than if, Berbatov leaves.