Spurs in fight to keep Berbatov

Tottenham could face a fight to keep star striker Dimitar Berbatov during the January transfer window.

Tottenham could face a fight to keep star striker Dimitar Berbatov during the January transfer window.

Chairman Daniel Levy insists the club will not listen to offers for key players during the transfer window, but Berbatov's agent Emil Dantchev is quoted as saying he has spoken to Levy and told him the striker wants to leave if a "suitable" offer comes in.

The 26-year-old striker has rediscovered his stunning form for Spurs in recent weeks and fired four goals in the 6-4 win over Reading on Saturday.

However, Dantchev claims the player is keen to join a team with greater trophy-winning potential than the north Londoners.

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The agent is reported to have told The Sun: "I have already spoken to the Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and told him that 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.

"I would like to stress this is not about money, this is about sporting ambition, nor has it anything to do with the new manager Juande Ramos. Dimitar is perfectly happy with Ramos and the way he is working but after Tottenham's bad start to the season it is unlikely they will have the chance to do something big this season."

Spurs' position could not be more contrasting, with Levy insisting: "Once again for the record, we are not a selling club, rather we are building for the future.

"When we have players on long contracts we have no need to entertain offers."

Spurs have been linked with a host of signings since the appointment of Juande Ramos as head coach.

But Levy is not anticipating radical changes in January, despite a poor defensive record, and has stressed that Spurs will only look at "essential" deals.

Levy said: "Juande, (sporting director) Damien (Comolli) and I have reviewed the squad and Juande feels that we are not looking at any major changes.

"We are all clear that the January window is the worst time to buy quality players so we shall not be doing any business that is not essential."

Ramos, Levy and Comolli have already sanctioned the move for Chris Gunter from Cardiff, while Ajax's Urby Emanuelson has been suggested as a possible target from sources in Holland.

Darren Bent was linked with a move to West Ham last week but Spurs were keen to stress that they wish to keep the £16.5million striker, who arrived in the summer from Charlton.