United need to call Spurs bluff over Berbatov...

So then, who is going to blink first over the proposed sale of Berbatov to the Reds, will it be United, or will it be the crafty cockneys? I wouldn't like to wager on the outcome of either scenario and course we cannot rule out that United will, at some point this week, end their reported interest if Spurs keep on trying to screw the Red Devils, in time honoured fashion.

The prospect of the deal going through has not been helped by Spurs and Ramos who are under pressure following a dreadful start to the new season. Losing at home to Sunderland will have been hard for Spurs fans to stomach.

Having already sold Robbie Keane to Liverpool for "good money" and maybe Berbatov to United and with no obvious replacements in the pipeline, it leaves the North London club open to the accusation that there's no "plan B". What use is money in the bank if your team is propping up the division?

Reports claim that Spurs are holding out for £30m (he isn't worth anywhere near that figure given his age), NO other club would meet that valuation and Daniel Levy and Co are clearly trying it on. However, in some ways United are a victims of their own stupidity with the transfer cheque-book, given that we have given in to selling clubs over prospective targets on too many previous occasions, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick being perfect examples.

United ended up doing their level best to bail out Leeds United when they were on their financial uppers to the tune of £30m - a world record fee for a defender at the time - this when the spectre of the administrator was hanging over Elland Road. Who will ever forget our then CEO, Peter Kenyon, announcing to the world that Manchester United are cash rich.. it was an open invitation for selling clubs to take the ****.

IF the Reds had fought hard enough they could have prized Rio away from the Leeds for a lot less. The same goes for Michael Carrick, we shelled out £18m, only for Spurs to later let it be known, via "sources", they'd have accepted a lot less, which was in itself a massive PR own goal, as surely this will have upset United who won't have forgotten the stunt.

I'm personally hoping that United stand firm on this occasion because the club needs to demonstrate that they will not be held to ransom by selling clubs. The worst that can happen is we lose out on Berbatov this summer, but the message will go out that the days of United's transfer trousers being pulled down are over.

Even without Berbatov United will have at least four strikers to call upon in Tevez, Rooney, Campbell, Saha and Munucho (subject to work permit) on the latter some reports are claiming that the Angolan has been given the green light, so it won't all be bad if we fail to land the Bulgarian.