Berbatov, Or Bundles Of Cash?

Rumours of the Bulgarian’s impending exit began in late December when Berbatov’s agent Emil Dantchev claimed, “if a club which corresponds to Dimitar's class and ambition comes in with an offer which suits his current club in January, he would like to be allowed to go.”

Soon enough, the headlines in all the major papers declared strong interest in the forward emanating from Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.

In the ensuing weeks it would seem that the nerves of anxious Spurs fans, keen to hear news of Berbatov staying, have been calmed considerably. The chairman of the club, Daniel Levy has stated, “for the record, we are not a selling club,” whilst team captain Ledley King has shown the importance of Berbatov in Tottenham’s future by saying, "if we want to be moving in the right direction, we need to hold on to him - it's as simple as that."

However, the words of Tottenham’s manager Juande Ramos - he said, "I think a club would have to break the British transfer record to sign Berbatov," and "everyone has a price" - have raised an important question. If Tottenham are able to sell the Bulgarian for a fee in excess of £30m, would Spurs be in a better position than if they kept him?

To the loyal fans of Tottenham, the prospect of selling their star striker would seem to be a a move destined to further consign the club to the shadows of their fierce North London rivals, Arsenal. Indeed, with Berbatov in their side it is clear that the club is in possession of a marksman of the highest calibre.

The languid Bulgarian has already bulged the net 13 times for Spurs this season, following on from the 21 goals he scored for the club in his stellar debut campaign. Added to this are the numerous assists and cultured touches that Berbatov is able to provide, and the excellent understanding that he enjoys with fellow striker, Robbie Keane.

The last month has seen Berbatov hit top form with the striker scoring in the win against Portsmouth, the loss at Arsenal, and proving a considerable thorn in the side of Reading by scoring a brace in the FA Cup, and - most remarkably - 4 goals in the league encounter between the sides.

With all this fresh in the mind of the Tottenham fans, it is clear to see why they remain steadfastly against the sale of Berbatov.

However, for signs that all is not lost for a team when they sell their star player, the followers of Tottenham should look towards the performance of Atlético Madrid in La Liga this term.

After an inconsistent season last year, the Rojiblancos finally decided to sell talisman and captain, Fernando Torres, to Liverpool for a fee in excess of £20 million. Upon the sanctioning of this sale, the club supporters protested that there could be no hope for the future without El Niño in the side.

Fast forward to today, and a rejuvenated Atlético sit in fourth place in La Liga. A squad that previously lacked depth and balance has seen the money generated by the transfer of Torres go towards the captures of Diego Forlan, Thiago Motta, Raúl García, Luis García, José Reyes, Simão Sabrosa, Cléber Santana, and Christian Abbiati.

For Tottenham, the sale of Berbatov could offer the chance to address the crippling defensive deficiencies of their side. After conceding goals at an alarming rate all season, the signings of mooted transfer targets goalkeepers Óscar Ustari & Maarten Stekelenburg, defenders Daniel Jarque, Urby Emanuelson, Gianluca Zambrotta, Valon Behrami, & Alan Hutton, plus the reported capture of Sevilla’s midfield battleaxe Christian Poulsen, could add much-needed steel to the team.

Furthermore, it is clear to see that Tottenham do not want for a goalscorer in any case. In Robbie Keane, Spurs posses the player that scored the most league goals in the Premiership throughout 2007 (19 goals), their £16.5m summer signing Darren Bent - who has admittedly yet to hit stride - as well as super-sub and supposed Ramos reject Jermain Defoe.

Thus, it would seem that the declaration of unrest in Berbatov has left the Tottenham board in a quandary. On one hand, the option of keeping hold of their star striker could serve as a powerful statement of intent, whilst on the other, the massive transfer fee required to prise Berbatov from the ‘Lane could be used for essential squad building.

For guidance, it would seem that the directors of Tottenham should look no further than the example set by the Atlético Madrid board for what can be achieved once a club takes the brave decision to sell their top player.