CHELSEA believe they will win the race to sign Dimitar Berbatov in a #25million summer deal.
As Sunday Mirror Sport revealed last weekend, the reigning champions and archrivals Manchester United are both in hot pursuit of Tottenham's star striker.
Spurs do not want to lose the 26-year-old they recruited last summer in a #10.9m deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
A White Hart Lane insider said: "We don't have to sell. Dimi signed a four-year deal when he joined us and he's happy here."
But the big two still reckon at the right price the Bulgarian can be lured away.
Chelsea sense they can win the battle and that will be a major coup for sporting director Frank Arnesen, who has been leading the campaign to make Berbatov's recruitment a top priority.
Arnesen quit White Hart Lane in controversial circumstances in 2005, with Chelsea forced to pay about #5m in compensation for his services.
Inside Old Trafford there is a belief that Louis Saha may not have a long-term future with the club and boss Sir Alex Ferguson may be prepared to trade the France striker in a bid to provide Spurs with an immediate replacement for Berbatov.
Spurs boss Martin Jol has enquired about Saha in the past and the striker's recent injury problems have undermined his United career.
_________________
THE Middlesbrough starlet at the centre of the BBC Panorama "bungs" investigation is ready to walk out on the club.
Nathan Porritt's decision will start a stampede of Premiership clubs after he rejected a professional contract at the Riverside.
Porritt, 17, who has just recovered from a broken leg, attracted attention from Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle before agreeing a scholarship with Boro.
Agent Peter Harrison, who also featured heavily in the Panorama story, said: "I've informed Middlesbrough Nathan is not signing his contract. He is going to leave."
Chelsea are favourites to get the young star.