Dimitar Berbatov Leaves Man Utd: Why Fulham Have Achieved a Major Transfer Coup

Fulham might have just pulled off one of the biggest coups of the entire summer transfer window in their acquisition of Dimitar Berbatov from Manchester United (via the club's official website).

A former Premier League Golden Boot winner, Berbatov was seemingly unwanted by Manchester United, having slipped down the striker ranks behind Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

The recent pickups of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa all but confirmed that the 31-year-old would not see any significant game time at Old Trafford this season.

Think about everything that Berbatov brings to Fulham.

Few can dispute the skills that the Bulgarian international has.

The striker netted 56 goals in 149 appearances for the Red Devils and 48 goals in 78 appearances for his national side Bulgaria. He has picked up the Premier League Golden Boot Award, the League Cup and the FIFA World Cup.

He has won two Barclays Premier League titles and has been named the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a staggering seven times.

Berbatov is a proven performer and a known goal scorer; his Premier League success makes him a worthy candidate of any summer transfer.

Once you consider just what Fulham paid for the striker, though, it seems almost unbelievable.

The Sun reports that the 31-year-old has joined the Cottagers for just £4 million—a staggering £26 million less than what Manchester United paid for him four years ago and still less than half of what Tottenham Hotspur paid for him in 2006.

To put that into perspective, take a look at some of the other transfers that took place in the Premier League this summer for around £4 million to £5 million (per the Daily Mail). 

Charlie Adam, Pablo Hernandez, Vedran Colorka and Nick Powell all cost the same as what Fulham paid for Berbatov. Martin Jol, though, got an experienced and proven performer.

Even if he doesn't regain the exact same form that he possessed at Old Trafford three years ago, it's still an incredible signing for Jol.

To do it for just £4 million?

It might just be the steal of the summer.

How big a steal is Dimitar Berbatov for £4 million?

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