With Michael Owen tied to the club for another year, it appears likely that Dimitar Berbatov may follow suit. However, suggestions have been made that United target Ashley Young could offer more attacking choice – coupled with returning loan players – and wave goodbye to Berba. Pete South investigates…  

  Report By: Pete South, 11:00am

Michael Owen has signed a one year contract extension, with United leaving Dimitar Berbatov’s future with the club uncertain. Owen’s time at the club had come into questioning by both fans and the media, but announced on his Twitter page how pleased he was to be staying at Old Trafford for 12 more months. “Delighted to be staying for another year. Thanks for all your messages” he wrote to his 430,000 followers on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old struggled to find his way into the starting line-up with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Berbatov above him in the pecking order, but scored in the final game of the season against Blackpool and was on the bench at Berbatov’s expense for the Champions League Final – a move that has prompted sports bets backing the Bulgarian to leave the club.
 

Newcastle United are said to be weighing up a £7 Million bid for the 30-year-old Bulgarian striker – seemingly a derisory offer for United’s top scorer this season. However Berbatov has spoken about his despair at being left out for the Champions League final, revealing that his was ‘ashamed’ to have not been included – but says he will stay at United and fight for his place. “I will fight for the 20th title. If I were an easy quitter, I would never have made it this far.”

“Everything at Manchester United starts from scratch for me on July 4. There will be new finals and we will be fighting for new titles. I am moving ahead. The truth is that I stayed at the dressing room and watched the final there. I was ashamed that I was not part of the team and did not want people to see how sad I felt.” Berbatov added. 

With Danny Welbeck back from a loan spell with Sunderland and Federico Macheda still on United’s books, while sport betting suggests Sir Alex has his eyes Aston Villa’s Ashley Young who he would deploy as a second striker- Berbatov may well find himself on the periphery of the team once more next time round. But with 20 goals to his name this term, Ferguson will be keen to hold on to the former Spurs forward…

Even if he does play a reduced role next season: It is just a matter of whether that player himself is willing to accept a role away from the limelight.

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