Freshly-minted Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg are preparing for their first Champions League campaign in style. In addition to looking to retain most of their stars, the club wants to add more experience to its ranks and one of the names appears to be none other than Dimitar Berbatov, a report in Germany claims.

Hamburg striker Mladen Petric is top of Wolfsburg's shopping list. "We have one or two possibilities, and he is one of them" managing director Jurgen Marbach, was quoted as saying by local newspaper Wolfsburger Nachrichten.

The club is keen to retain the services of star striker Edin Dzeko and has rebuffed a 30 million euro approach from AC Milan. Should Dzeko be prised away from the Volkswagen Arena, the search for a replacement is already on.

One target is Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov, who spent five years at Bundesliga rival Bayer Leverkusen earlier in his career, even though just last week the player's agent was adamant that Berbatov intended to stay at Old Trafford. What the player intends on doing however is not necessarily relevant or in concert with what Alex Ferguson wants to do – ultimately, the fate of the striker relies with United's manager, and not the Bulgarian's desires.

VfB were exploring the possibility of getting Berbatov on a one-season loan deal, as otherwise he would arrive with a very steep price tag which the Bundesliga outfit simply cannot afford.

The Bulgarian found himself on the subs bench increasingly often in the second half of the season and might be open to a move away. Berbatov would fit the role of the high-profile striker sought by Wolfsburg and Manchester United could be glad to have his wages off their books, Wolfsburger Nachrichten said.

Meanwhile, Manchester United who have accepted a bid Cristiano Ronaldo and are almost as certain to lose Carlos Tevez, possibly to local rivals Manchester City, could have only Wayne Rooney and Berbatov left as senior strikers by the end of June, meaning that the Red Devils will have to invest in strikers themselves if they are to avoid being caught short half-way through the season through injury.