Fergie and Berbatov finally talk business
Tottenham Hotspur striker Dimitar Berbatov has finally got to meet Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. With Manchester City having bid for the Bulgarian, and reports of an offer from Real Madrid, Ferguson remains eager to tie down his number one transfer target.
The 27-year-old headed into United's Carrington training complex at tea-time on Monday for what the Red Devils hope will be one of the final acts in an eventual move from Tottenham.
Close by, at their own training ground, barely a mile from United 's, City await a response to their own £30million move for the player.
Unlike United, who, as yet, are still to have a bid accepted, City's offer has met with the satisfaction of the Spurs' hierarchy.
What the Blues do not know is whether Berbatov is willing to sign a lucrative contract with them - and turn his back on United in the process.
The Red Devils cannot be entirely sure of that either, which is why Berbatov's presence at Ferguson's door does not guarantee his arrival.
And even if Berbatov sticks to his original choice of joining the Red Devils, there is still work to be done agreeing a fee with Spurs as there has been no method found to bridge the £5million gap between the sum United are prepared to pay and the money Tottenham want.
However, at this stage the odds would still seem to be in favour of him joining the Old Trafford club, although officials accept it is going to be a close-run thing before the midnight transfer deadline expires.
While Tottenham would appear to be sitting pretty, they are also engaged in a game of brinkmanship as their signings of Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow and Vedran Corluka from Manchester City suggest they want rid of Berbatov rather than having a discontented player of such value merely festering in the reserves.
City's new owners - the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment - are eager to flex their financial muscle. And pulling off one of the most audacious transfer coups of all time would certainly achieve that.
"I am as stunned and excited by this as the fans are," City boss Mark Hughes told Sky Sports, barely able to take in events of such a tumultuous day himself as he took part in a charity golf day.