Hughes confirms Berbatov talks
Mark Hughes will be talking to Dimitar Berbatov after Man City's British record transfer bid was accepted by Spurs.
Hughes was speaking to Sky Sports News while he was at a golf course.
He confirmed that City have emerged as shock late contenders to sign Dimitar Berbatov, although their bid to snatch the Tottenham man seems doomed to failure.
With a US$365 million takeover by Middle Eastern organisation Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment almost complete, the Blues have launched an audacious bid to sign Berbatov, whose career at White Hart Lane seems to be over.
It is thought City have offered US$67.6 million (£37 million) to Spurs for the 27-year-old to bolster Mark Hughes' attacking options.
Should the 11th-hour move come off, it would represent the most amazing bit of transfer business this summer, not least because Berbatov has seemingly been destined for Manchester United.
However, it still seems likely the Bulgarian will end up at Old Trafford, with attempts to sign the player continuing.
Although it is expected a deal with United will be concluded, no-one would be surprised if the midnight deadline was almost up before United got their man.
The Bulgarian has made no secret of his desire to leave Tottenham and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants the 27-year-old in his squad.
However, the deal has been halted by Tottenham's refusal to bend on that US$54.8 million fee and their annoyance at United's pursuit of the former Bayer Leverkusen player.
For their part, United do not want to go beyond their own US$45.66 million valuation and have laughed off what they consider repeated attempts by Tottenham to hold them to ransom, not least by pushing interest from Barcelona, which was always sketchy at best, and are likely to view the mention of City's name in the same manner.
The Old Trafford outfit have been tailing other targets, just in case the Berbatov deal did not go through.
But now it seems their focus is solely on the sleek forward, who would provide the bulk and finesse required now injury-prone Louis Saha has left for Everton.
Although no-one is prepared to say exactly if and how talks between Spurs and United are progressing, it is thought contact was made in Monaco around the European draws and Super Cup encounter between the Red Devils and Zenit St Petersburg.
Certainly more optimistic opinions are coming from Old Trafford than they have for most of the summer, although the club remain cautious given the speed with which the whole deal must be processed once agreement is reached.
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