Berbatov in demand but lacking class

With the noses of the needy pressed up against the glass, it was an opportunity not to be missed. Chelsea, nursing a £30m flop and about to release Didier Drogba to the Africa Cup of Nations, have the cheque-book at the ready. After another quiet day in the office, Manchester United are also tempted to splash the cash.

Only Dimitar Berbatov missed his cue yesterday, vacating centre spot in the shop window to a couple of bruising Villa defenders. If the Tottenham striker felt obliged to show would-be suitors he is good value at a rumoured asking price of £25m, it was not apparent yesterday. Berbatov's indifference at Villa Park was out of order.

No wonder Juande Ramos looked peeved. If Jermain Defoe did little to endear himself to the new Spaniard in charge - stylish strike aside - Berbatov's performance smacked of a relationship in serious decline. As Martin Jol will tell you, the Bulgarian has always been high maintenance. Yesterday, he was all precious and no effort.

Perhaps the deal is done. Last night Avram Grant, the Chelsea manager, admitted a new striker was top of his Stamford Bridge shopping list. Despite the 2-1 win at Fulham yesterday, with Salomon Kalou again finding the back of the net, Chelsea will do well to stay in the title race without an established goal scorer filling Drogba's considerable boots.

"Wait and see," said the Israeli when quizzed on the identity of the chosen one. Bolton's Nicolas Anelka is the bookmakers' favourite to return to London and at £10m the French internationalist would be sound business to a club that spent three times that on Andrei Shevchenko. Yet Grant was giving nothing away. "I like both of those strikers," he said mischievously.

But Berbatov or Anelka? I need a bigger club, big enough to accommodate my considerable ego, said the 26-year-old Bulgarian in so many words this week. Now where have we heard that before? Anelka's switch from Arsenal to Real Madrid was equally messy, his arrogance and that of his agent brother something to be behold.

But while Anelka appears to have matured in the intervening period, discovering a smattering of humility in the unlikely setting of the Reebok Stadium, the strutting, preening Berbatov has it all to learn. If United do test Spurs' resolve, Sir Alex Ferguson will have a job on his hands.

Berbatov's agent has said his client is open to offers.

No sooner did the 26-year-old steal the Christmas headlines with a four-goal spree against Reading, there was a timely disclosure. Never mind a contract with two years to run, Berbatov would leave White Hart Lane if an appropriate suitor came knocking.

Poor old Tottenham. New Year's Day, same old problems for the north London side with a rank rotten defence that has now conceded 43 league goals this season.

Two set-pieces, two strong headers from Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen and Villa sent their visitors packing. Ramos instead had to deal with another injury, this time to Younes Kabul, forcing another switch at the back.

It cost Tottenham dear. Poor Jamie O'Hara, five foot nothing in his stockings, was no match for the towering Laursen, as he nailed his fifth goal of the season with another thumping header.

In the first half, it had been Michael Dawson's loss of concentration that led to Villa's opener. All over him like a rash for 40 minutes, Dawson left Mellberg's side for a moment and suffered the consequences. Up popped the unmarked Swede to convert Ashley Young's free-kick.

"We are not a selling club," insisted chairman Daniel Levy this week. But if Tottenham are to move forward under the capable Ramos, certain issues must be resolved. If Berbatov wishes to leave and good money is placed on the table, it would be foolish to resist. For one temperamental goal scorer, Tottenham could get some seriously good defenders.