Manchester United would finally secure Tottenham’s Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, once Zenit St Petersburg’s Andrei Arshavin completed his expected move to Spurs, manchestereveningnews.co.uk reported.

Although United’s pursuit of the Bulgarian infuriated Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, the site reported that “he is understood to have told Old Trafford [Man Utd] officials that he would be willing to let him go for £28m.”

Berbatov’s transfer saga has been ongoing since last summer, when Manchester United first showed interest in him. Rumours have been circulating ever since that he is leaving Tottenham to join United. Other major European clubs like AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid were reportedly also interested in the forward. However, it was not until the current transfer window that United officially entered negotiations about Berbatov. Despite the striker’s obvious desire to move, the deal has not been completed yet, because Tottenham set a British-record transfer fee of £38 million.

Media are more than pleased to comment on the case, sending and recalling Berbatov to and from United. Latest reports said that United wanted to sign Barcelona’s French striker Thierry Henry ahead of Berbatov.

Manchestereveningnews.co.uk said: “Spurs are resigned to losing the forward, despite reporting United to the Premier League over their attempts to lure him away from White Hart Lane,” while United’s manager Alex Ferguson has made Berbatov his number one target, seeking a way to strengthen his team’s attack.

Only Tottenham manager Juande Ramos’s desire to have a replacement for Berbatov is still holding up the deal. “Russia’s Euro 2008 sensation Arshavin is that man, which should enable Ferguson to land the player he has tracked for the last 12 months,” the newspaper said.

Meanwhile mirror.co.uk reported that Berbatov did not appear for Tottenham on July 30 against Leyton Orient. The striker travelled with the first team squad, but was not even a substitute in the match. His absence on the field fuelled “speculation he could complete a move to Manchester United in the next few days.”

Still, Tottenham’s officials insist Berbatov will travel with the team to the Netherlands on July 31 for Tottenham’s matches against Celtic and Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.

“But it seems likely he will follow Robbie Keane out of White Hart Lane and Ramos will have to step up his search to bring in quality replacements before the season starts,” mirror.co.uk said.