Berbatov set to seal new deal

Posted Tuesday, February 07, 2012 by The Sun

DIMITAR BERBATOV will be handed a one-year contract extension by Manchester United — ending any hopes of a quick getaway.

The striker is a free agent this summer and would prefer to look at his options.

But United have decided to activate a clause in his contract.

Berbatov, 31, was linked with PSG and former club Bayer Leverkusen in the January window.

But United have made it clear to the Bulgarian and his advisors they intend to trigger the extension, which was inserted as part of the £30million deal which took him from Tottenham in 2008.

It is understood Berbatov will not receive a wage rise on his reported £100,000-a-week salary either, as United seek to protect their original investment.

Manager Alex Ferguson has spoken to Berbatov in the last fortnight and informed the forward he is happy to retain him as a valuable member of the squad.

United will rubber-stamp the deal at the start of next month and would then only consider a sale if someone matches the asking price of around £8m.

There are even suggestions he could be used as a possible makeweight in any renewed bid by United to finance a summer move for Tottenham's Luka Modric.

Berbatov's club-mate Javier Hernandez has promised rivals Manchester City a fight to the finish in the title race.

The Mexican hitman believes Sunday's stunning 3-3 draw at Chelsea proves United will NEVER chuck in the towel.

Sub Chicharito's dramatic late header completed a memorable fightback from three goals down.

He said: "Even when it was such a difficult situation, we never gave up and we never accepted we were going to lose.

"We were still fighting until the very last minute and even after scoring our third goal we were still looking to score a winner.

"That is the strength and quality of this team. The manager always goes to win games and he always makes attacking substitutions to chase a positive result.

"That is why we will be fighting for the title right to the end of the season."

United midfielder Michael Carrick said: "Even after their third goal we still fancied ourselves to go on and win it and even now there's a slight tinge of regret that we didn't do that."