Eric Dier to Man Utd: Man City have damaged Spurs deal as Dimitar Berbatov legacy lingers

Manchester United were repeatedly told Dimitar Berbatov was not for sale nine years ago. Despite having Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez at his disposal, Sir Alex Ferguson wanted more. 

At the time, the striker was one of the best forwards in the top flight. Tottenham signed him from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006 and the Bulgarian quickly became an instant White Hart Lane hit. 

Berbatov huffed and puffed - something he rarely did on the pitch - when United's interest became apparent. But Tottenham chief Daniel Levy, a man known for driving a hard bargain, was determined to keep his star man.

And then Manchester City came along. Fuelled by the riches of a takeover from The Abu Dhabi United Group, they immediately set about signing Berbatov from under the noses of their fiercest rival.

On their transfer blog from the day itself, the BBC said City had launched a bid for the player. Mark Hughes would discuss personal terms after he had finished golf and the deal would be wrapped up.

And then Ferguson went all Jose Mourinho and hijacked the deal. Berbatov was whisked to their Carrington training base to undergo a medical despite United failing to agree a deal with Spurs. 

Ultimately, they got their man. He signed, Tottenham got Frazier Campbell and a no doubt seething Levy was forced to smile through gritted teeth and wish the striker good luck for the future. 

But the scars well and truly remain.

Nine years on and the Red Devils are keen on another Spurs player. This time, it is Eric Dier.

Express Sport understands the England international is determined to make the move to Old Trafford, wants to play under Jose Mourinho and wants to become their third signing of the summer after Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku. 

And, rather ironically, Levy is now the man in charge. 

United are willing to part with around £60million to sign the player but to let him go would not be in keeping with recent Tottenham transfer business. 

Levy point blank refused to let Gareth Bale join United in 2013, despite David Moyes outbidding Real Madrid. Similarly, the Spurs chief was determined to ensure Luka Modric went to Real instead of a domestic rival the previous year. 

United's relationship with Tottenham was shattered the day they got Berbatov. And all because of City. Whether Ed Woodward can mend it remains to be seen.