Fulham: Can Jol get Berbatov back on song again?
While there has been talk of one high-profile striker possibly leaving Old Trafford before the transfer window closes on Friday, it looks as though one forward has definitely played his final game for the club.
Dimitar Berbatov, the man Sir Alex Ferguson paid Spurs £30 million for in 2008, appears to have accepted that first-team opportunities at Old Trafford will be slim this season and is ready for a new chapter in his career. Italian giants Juventus and established Premier League outfit Fulham are reportedly vying for his signature, with Fulham said to be leading the race.
This would not only be a great move for Berbatov, but for Fulham too.
A move to Craven Cottage could be ideal for Berbatov as he would be reunited with the man who brought him to the Premier League six years ago, Martin Jol.
Jol signed Berbatov from Bayer Leverkusen for around £11 million and the Bulgarian lit up the Premier League. With his silky skills, deft first touch and an eye for goal, Berbatov struck up a glittering partnership with partner Robbie Keane. The Bulgarian won admirers from across the board and picked up a glut of personal accolades, but Spurs narrowly missed out on a Champions League place during his two-year spell at the club.
Desperate to play in the Champions League, Berbatov got his wish in 2008 when Spurs accepted a £30 million bid from Manchester United on transfer deadline day. Sir Alex Ferguson was keen to have the creative guile of Berbatov at the club, but his style of play wasn't to everyone's taste. While United had Rooney and Tevez running around like blue-arsed flies to win the ball back, Berbatov was much more laid back and care free in his approach, angering a number of Red Devils.
Despite scoring 56 goals in 149 appearances for United, Berbatov found game time hard to come by at Old Trafford, settling for cameo roles from the bench more often than not. Was Berbatov a success at United? A goal in every third game suggests he was, but he will never go down as a United great.
The Bulgarian has angered Fiorentina officials after he boarded a plane to Italy, but never arrived at the club, leading to a strong statement being released by the club. Berbatov may never be allowed anywhere near Fiorentina again, but he could be a huge hit with Fulham.
Martin Jol knows Berbatov better than anyone and the Bulgarian would easily slot into Fulham's forward line. The striker would not need time to adjust to the Premier League and would ultimately be a regular in the first team. With Dembele gone and Dempsey looking like he is on his way, Fulham have cash to spend and Jol would love to improve the quality of his squad.
Goals win games in the Premier League and a forward line of Berbatov, Petric, Ruiz and Rodallega would be a constant offensive threat. His skill and experience would be invaluable to the Cottagers.
But would you be pleased to see Berbatov at Craven Cottage?
Calling all Fulham fans: Could Berbatov get back to winning ways with Fulham? Could his arrival ensure the Cottagers are challenging for Europe again this season? Whatever your views, we'd love to hear from you.
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