Berbatov on verge of Fulham move

Dimitar Berbatov is on the verge of completing a move to Fulham after undergoing a medical with the Craven Cottage outfit.

It is understood that the Bulgarian will take a 60,000-pound-a-week wage drop to 70,000 pounds a week but will receive two million pounds of any fee received by Manchester United.

Fulham owner Mohamed Al-Fayed is ready to back Martin Jol with a marquee signing following the sale of fan favourite Mousa Dembele to Spurs for around 15 million pounds and the growing likelihood that Clint Dempsey will move to Liverpool in a deal worth seven million pounds.

The Bulgarian striker infuriated both Fiorentina and Juventus on Wednesday after turning his back on a move to Serie A as he would now prefer to stay in the Premier League.

Cottagers boss Jol is a huge admirer of Berbatov but Fulham have a tight wage structure, with the top earner – believed to be Mark Schwarzer – on 45,000 pounds a week, meaning that the United man will become the club’s highest-paid player if he completes the move.

The final 12 months on Berbatov’s Manchester United contract is understood to be worth 6.2 million pounds and there have been suggestions around the club that he may even sit out his contract.

West Ham, Zenit St Petersburg and Dynamo Kiev have all been linked with an interest in Berbatov but the striker appears to be keen to re-unite with Jol, with whom he was such a success at Tottenham.

Berbatov has voiced his frustration at United after falling out of favour at Old Trafford and finding himself down the pecking order behind Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

But he infuriated Fiorentina on Wednesday after he backed out of a move to Florence despite verbally agreeing personal terms and boarding a flight to Italy.

“The player got on the flight with his agent and on tickets paid for by Fiorentina,” the statement reads. “He never arrived in Florence.

“This was down to outlandish and arrogant behaviour of other clubs, who have nothing to do with fair play and sporting ethics that go even beyond the confines of fairness.

“As for the player, apart from his characteristics and his value on the field, at this stage we are happy he didn’t come to Fiorentina. He did not deserve our city, to wear our jersey or the values that represent it.”

Berbatov was top scorer in the Premier League two seasons ago but made just 12 league appearances last season, scoring seven goals.

Jol has confirmed that the club are also confident of signing Kieran Richardson from Sunderland before the transfer window closes at 11pm British time on Friday.

Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill confirmed that the Wearside outfit had accepted a fee for the wide man on Wednesday with the 27-year-old in the final year of his contract.