Spurs boss Ramos confident that he's talked Berbatov into staying

Last updated at 18:08 14 March 2008

Tottenham manager

Juande Ramos is confident

Dimitar Berbatov will sign a

new contract after holding

talks with the striker.

Ramos is already planning mass

changes to the squad for next season, but

wants to build his team around the Bulgarian

international.

It is understood the Spaniard has convinced

the 27-year-old that he should

stay at White Hart Lane after discussing

his long-term plans with the striker.

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Ramos has reassured Berbatov that he

will be spending big in the transfer market

in the summer to ensure Spurs can

challenge for a top four place in the Premier

League as well as in the cups.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star is

desperate to play in Europe's premier

club competition, but has been

impressed by the impact Ramos has

made since he arrived from Sevilla in

October, especially with the club's victory

in the Carling Cup.

He has two years left on his current

deal with an option for another two

years and Ramos has told close friends

he expects him to stay at the club despite

interest from Manchester United.

The news should give Spurs a boost following

their disappointing exit to PSV

Eindhoven in the UEFA Cup, where

Berbatov was once again the club's best

player on view.

The season might not end happily for

defender Pascal Chimbonda, who missed

the crucial penalty in the shoot-out.

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He will be sold in the summer after

angering the club with his contract

demands earlier in the season, but may

also see his appearances in the first

team reduced before then.

Alan Hutton is now the first choice

right back and while Chimbonda has

been used as an emergency left back due

to injuries to Gareth Bale and Benoit

Assou-Ekotto, Ramos will use Gilberto,

Lee Young-Pyo and Chris Gunter instead

of the French international.

Tottenham go to Manchester City on

Sunday with Michael Dawson set to start

instead of captain Ledley King. Younes

Kaboul (knee) and Ricardo Rocha (groin)

are still struggling to return.

Ramos' assistant Gus Poyet is determined

to ensure Spurs' season doesn't

peter out following the UEFA Cup defeat.

He said: “The target for us now is that

we keep improving and that means we

have to win as many games as possible.

“We are going to start building for

next season starting with Sunday.”