Forget Dimitar Berbatov, What About Michael Owen For Manchester United?

Previous weeks it has been Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, Gareth Barry to Liverpool, Emmanuel Adebayor to AC Milan, or Frank Lampard to Inter Milan. But this week, the transfer saga dominating the back pages is Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United.

None of the above ended up happening, (although there is still time), but Dimitar Berbatov seems set to sulk his way out of White Hart Lane. Seriously, I think he should take over Nicolas Anelka's tag of "the Incredible Sulk."

Berbatov has been great for Tottenham, but now a bigger club comes calling and he wants out. He doesn't just want out, he believes he has a right to leave. Sorry Dimitar, but you're under contract, so you're a Tottenham player until Daniel Levy and Manchester United can come to an agreement.

During this time you should sit tight, play your best for Tottenham, and perhaps quietly wish for a move to Old Trafford. I think Berbatov has shown his sheer lack of sportsmanship and loyalty with this transfer saga.

I still don't know why United want him so much. Yes, he is a top player, but worth £30m? Well, no he isn't, and to be fair to United, they don't think he is either which is why the saga rumbles on. Personally, I think he is largely over-rated.

I wrote a piece on whether Man Utd need Dimitar Berbatov about a month ago now (click here to see that), and my view hasn't changed. No, they do not need him.

However, I now believe that they do need a striker. Well, who better than Mr. Michael Owen?

Sure, the ex-Liverpool man may not want to move to Old Trafford, but what if he decides that does? His Liverpool days were a long time ago, and United are one of the biggest clubs in the world. I think he could be an absolute star there.

He has had injury problems, but he seems to be coming through them now, so he hopefully wouldn't be another Louis Saha. And he has proved himself as a goalscorer at every club he has been at. Kevin Keegan says he is the best goalscorer he has ever seen.

196 goals in 386 games for Owen is a marginally better record than Berbatov's 173 in 333 (although that too is a very good record). Owen's attitude is better and I think he would be able to link up with Wayne Rooney better as well.

Potential stumbling blocks, however, are Michael Owen's ex-Liverpool roots, and Kevin Keegan's admiration of Owen. Almost every time he is faced with a camera he ends up telling us how good Owen is.

Because of this, Owen probably won't be cheap, especially as he is also Newcastle's club captain.

However, if I had £25 million to spend on one of these two, I would plump for Michael Owen.