Dimitar Berbatov is unhappy at Fulham and hopes to leave in January, according to his agent Emil Dantchev.
The 32-year-old Bulgarian striker is one of the club's marquee players but has scored just once in the Barclays Premier League this season — a barren run that has contributed to the struggles that cost Martin Jol his job as manager.
Rene Meulensteen took the reins this week charged with keeping the side in the division but will be rocked by news that Berbatov, whose contract expires in the summer, is looking for a way out.
“I don’t usually speculate as nobody knows what will happen in January but what I can tell you is he (Berbatov) is not happy at Fulham,” Dantchev said this morning.
“He would like, if possible, to find another option.”
Despite a poor campaign by his own standards, Berbatov has the star power to attract interest from clubs throughout Europe, but Dantchev suggested the his client would prefer to remain in the Premier League.
“I cannot comment (on whether there has been any approach) but the priority is to find a solution to stay in England,” he said.
Fulham, who take on Tottenham on Wednesday night in Meulensteen’s first match in charge, refused to comment on the situation.
John Collins, who ended his playing career with Fulham in 2003, believes selling Berbatov might be the right move for the club.
Collins has been concerned by the 32-year-old’s work-rate in recent times and thinks his style may not be appropriate for the relegation fight ahead.
He told talkSPORT: “I don’t think that would be a bad thing. I am an admirer of his talent and his skill but he is not a worker.
“He doesn’t press from the front. He’s been dropping a little too deep for me the last six months and Fulham need all hands on deck. They need a squad of players on the pitch that are going to roll their sleeves up and work their socks off.
“Of course, when they have got the ball they have got to be able to use it and he can use the ball, but I just feel maybe it is time for him to move on and be replaced.”
