Answer is simple for Berbatov

12 April 2012

Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos believes the only way for Dimitar Berbatov to silence jeers from his own fans this weekend is to find the net against Sunderland.

Berbatov has handed in a transfer request and is being continually linked with a move to Manchester United, and Saturday's match is his return to White Hart Lane following the summer transfer saga.

"Tottenham fans are no exception to any others - they support the team and get behind the side," said Ramos. "If a player is on form, if he knocks in a couple of goals then I'm sure anyone who booed him last week will soon be getting behind him and cheering him. That is what it is like."

He added: "While he is still here, he is very much 100% a Tottenham player; that is how we consider things. It is not a case of finding a solution to a problem before it occurs."

Berbatov was on the bench against Middlesbrough last week, on the day after he submitted his formal transfer request - and Ramos is yet to decide if his striker is ready to return to the starting XI.

Spurs are seeking a replacement for Robbie Keane, who left for Liverpool earlier in the summer, but look to be out of the race for Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg.

Arshavin's Russia team-mate, Roman Pavlyuchenko, would consider his family commitments before moving to London - while other suitable strikers mentioned include Diego Forlan and Luis Fabiano.

"We've got a list of targets that we are working very hard on," Ramos added. "Negotiations are tough and sometimes they are even tougher than usual. We know what we are working towards and we know what our objectives are.

"The process of signing players sometimes takes time, but fans should be aware we are trying to strengthen up front and sign a new forward. Quite often these things take time."

Ramos is also in the market for a defender and was close to signing Vedran Corluka from Manchester City before that deal collapsed. "It's true to say we have one or two areas that we need to look at defensively and maybe solve a few problems at the back," the Spurs boss added.

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