Sir Alex Ferguson has finally stated that he wants to keep Bulgarian star-striker, Dimitar Berbatov, at the Manchester United football club.

"Dimitar is still in my thoughts. I have read some things but there is absolutely no reason for me to let him go. He is an outstanding footballer and we will give the extra year. You need a good number of strikers in the modern day. If you look back to 1999, we had four great strikers. They all played their part," Ferguson is quoted saying.

Berbatov, a former Spurs striker, who was transferred to Manchester United for the record amount of GBP 30.75 M, had a hard time this season and often had to watch the game from the bench, over play of Wayne Rooney, and following the arrival of Javier Hernandez and the emergence of Danny Welbeck.

Sir Alex' statement came on the heels of the latest speculation Berbatov may be sold in the January transfer window, with cash-rich Russians Anzhi Makhackala an interested party. The striker's agent, Emil Danchev, even informed his client was interested in the offer.

Berbatov finished last season as Old Trafford's top goalscorer which was still not enough to earn him a place in the squad for the Champions League final, while during this term he managed just one single goal.