Germany more likely than Spain or Italy for Man Utd outcast Berbatov
Published:It is odds-on that Dimitar Berbatov remains a Premier League player next season, but a return to the Bundesliga at 2/1 looks perhaps the most likely option for the Manchester United striker.
Berbatov has become increasingly frustrated at Old Trafford, but still wants to test himself in a top European League rather than chase the money elsewhere in the world.
However, despite his agent Emil Danchev indicating that Berbatov “will probably leave England”, it is 5/6 that the Bulgarian will still be plying his trade in the Premier League next season.
Manchester United are to sign Berbatov for another season due to a clause in his contract and this will prevent him leaving on a free transfer in the summer.
A sum in the region of £6m is likely to encourage Manchester United to sell and it is hard to believe that one top European club will not be willing to take a slight risk on the striker.
Berbatov has averaged better than a goal every two Premier League games during his Manchester United career with 49 goals in 82 top-flight appearances.
Meanwhile, he has seven goals in ten games this season, of which only five were starts.
Berbatov previously helped Bayer Leverkusen reach the Champions League final in 2001/02 and he would almost certainly be welcomed back, while Bayern Munich would probably be interested if Mario Gomez or Thomas Mueller leave this summer.
It is 7/1 that Berbatov is playing in France next season and this is possible given Paris Saint-Germain’s big spending nature, while Marseille will have money to spend if selling Loic Remy for anywhere near his £20m asking price.
Berbatov is 8/1 to move to Italy in the summer and this is unlikely given that AC Milan have a squad full of strikers, Juventus have made Gonzalo Higuain their chief target and Inter Milan are focusing on younger talent.
Lazio look the only real Italian option.
Therefore, Spain is a better bet at 8/1, as Malaga or Valencia, assuming they sell Roberto Soldado, are both clubs that could appeal to Berbatov.
