Spurs fans will hope that this is the case. It appears that Manchester United may have burned their bridges with the North London club two years ago, after they wrested Michael Carrick away from White Hart Lane for £17million. Although Tottenham should have been laughing all the way to the bank with that sort of money for a holding midfielder, The Guardian reports that the Englishman’s exit has left a rather bitter taste in the mouth at White Hart Lane.

Therefore, while the Red Devils sniff around Dimitar Berbatov as a possible acquisition this summer, Spurs appear to be having none of it, increasing the price tag on the player for this possible buyer.

Manchester United’s attempt to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham is being frustrated because the north London club are still smarting over Michael Carrick’s departure for Old Trafford two summers ago, a source close to the player has exclusively told Observer Sport. Reports have estimated that Spurs are asking for as much as £30m for Berbatov, which according to the source is a purposefully inflated price designed to inform United they do not want to sell to them. ‘United did to Spurs what Real Madrid are currently doing over Cristiano Ronaldo by forcing the club’s hand,’ the source said.

This sort of thing seems to be happening a lot this summer, with Ronaldo, Barry and Adebayor just three players who are seemingly on the verge of a move, but require the clubs in question to arrive at an agreed fee. Surely Berbatov is worth £30million in this day and age, any club would rather sign one Bulgarian than two Michael Carricks wouldn’t they?