Spurs boss: 'Berbatov is not for sale'

Updated 10.26 Mon May 14 2007

Martin Jol is determined to keep Bulgarian hitman Dimitar Berbatov as he bids to build on Tottenham Hotspur's second successive fifth-placed finish in the Premiership.

Spurs finished 'best of the rest', behind the four clubs with Champions League aspirations, after beating Manchester City 2-1 at White Hart Lane on the final day of the campaign and Everton were held to a 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

And with the north Londoners reaching the latter stages of the Carling, FA and Uefa Cups too, free-scoring Berbatov has been linked with a possible summer move to one of the top-four clubs.

Chairman Daniel Levy used his programme notes to insist Tottenham were not in the business of selling their assets, easing the worries of fans who saw Manchester United sign England midfielder Michael Carrick for £18.6 million last summer.

And Jol echoed Levy's sentiments, saying: "You saw all the financial figures. We are a rich club, so why should we sell players? The other problem could be if players want to leave but they don't want to leave and they are all happy.

"Dimitar is happy. Maybe I spoke to him a bit more lately to tell him how popular he is, but maybe I don't have to tell him. He knows, he's a sensitive guy and loves it over here so I see no reason for him to think differently."

Berbatov and Robbie Keane were on target against Manchester City as Spurs leapfrogged Everton to claim fifth spot and with it cement their place in next season's Uefa Cup.

Jol added: "It means the world to us. We have a talented team and everyone again saw what we can do. We played 59 games this season and are the best of the rest again but we want more."

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