Dimitar Berbatov: Which 5 Teams Should Vie for His Services?

Dimitar Berbatov is arguably one of the English Premier League's top forwards. A striker with an unparalleled eye for goal and the ability to execute remarkable finishes, the Bulgarian would probably make any team's starting eleven.

Except Manchester United's. 

Despite finishing as the joint top scorer of the EPL along with Carlos Tevez, Berbatov seems to have been relegated to Manchester United's bench. Mexican poacher Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Englishman Danny Wellbeck have apparently overtaken Berbatov in the team's pecking order. Berbatov was also benched in the UEFA Champions League final versus Barcelona at Wembley last season.

It appears that Berbatov may be on his way out.

It's safe to say that there won't be a shortage of suitors ready to employ his services.

Which clubs will show the most interest in Berbatov? Given his age (30) and his apparent lack of pace and determination, who will show interest in a player seen by Sir Alex Ferguson himself as persona non grata?

Check out the slideshow to see a list of five potential suitors.

Arsenal

This is a surprising inclusion on the list, considering the rivalry between Arsenal and Manchester United.  Still, Berbatov could be the perfect striker for the North London club for several reasons.

First, his eye for goal would undoubtedly help finish off the elaborate passes and spells of possession that seem to go wasted under Arsene Wenger's free-flowing philosophy. Fans have always called for the club to buy a striker who can find the goal.

Berbatov could be that player.

Berbatov would also fit with Arsenal, given his technical skill and hold-up ability. He is able to put others into goal-scoring positions, making him the perfect partner to Robin van Persie in a possible 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. And given Arsenal's other options in the striker department—the extremely frustrating Marouane Chamakh and the unproven Chu Young Park—it seems Berbatov would be the ideal striker to fit into the current Arsenal team.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur's striker troubles are clear for all to see. Having already sold Peter Crouch to Stoke, and only temporarily replacing him with Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor, Tottenham could certainly use another forward.

Who better to employ than Dimitar Berbatov, who has already spent two years with the North London club? Though he would have to reacquaint himself with the Spurs' new style of play, the Bulgarian would profit from playing with a highly creative squad like Tottenham.

Given his age as well—30 years—Berbatov might come relatively cheap. Those who follow Tottenham know about Harry Redknapp's inability to pass on a bargain-buy.

A.S. Roma

A.S. Roma seems to be the perfect club for Dimitar Berbatov.

A.S. Roma, as with Tottenham Hotspur, are currently experiencing a shortage of experienced strikers. Italian hit man Marco Borriello, the only notable name in Roma's fleet of strikers, cannot lead the line on his own for the entire season. Bojan Krkic, though highly talented, is still unproven, and Pablo Osvaldo is still finding his feet.

This is where Berbatov comes in. A seemingly "slow" striker, the Bulgarian would fit well with the Italian League's slow tempo.  The Italian League is also known as the perfect "retirement league" for players over 30, as Berbatov is. Berbatov's experience in a much faster English league would pay off in Italy.

Malaga

Malaga are the latest football club to receive an influx of cash, following the arrival of new owner Sheikh Al Thani from Qatar. Needless to say, they now enjoy immense purchasing power, as they look to uproot Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Spanish League.

Having already brought in a plethora of talent—Jeremy Toulalan, Joaquin, Santi Cazorla and Ruud van Nistelrooy to name a few—Malaga could use Berbatov as its final piece. With his experience and ability, Berbatov would be worth a gamble. His age would mean a relatively low transfer and wage amount.

Berbatov would be the perfect player to partner with Ruud van Nistelrooy at the front of Malaga's attack, as he could set up scoring opportunities for the lethal Dutchman.

Manchester United

Few people know why Sir Alex Ferguson has started a campaign to push Dimitar Berbatov out of Manchester United. Even fans are confused, as Berbatov could still prove useful for the club.

Given the youth of Danny Wellbeck and Chicharito, Berbatov could, in theory, play for the Red Devils for another few years before he retires. Why Sir Alex feels otherwise is still a mystery. 

Given his experience and talent, Berbatov still remains a potential difference-maker for an already stacked Manchester United team.

Agree or disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, or simply tweet/follow me @saqibddb