Originally Posted by The Times

Queens Park Rangers are preparing an offer for Dimitar Berbatov as they continue the comprehensive revamp of a squad that evaded relegation narrowly last season.

Manchester United have valued the Bulgaria forward at £5 million after taking up the option in February to extend his contract by one season until next summer.

Berbatov, 31, has indicated that he wants to leave Old Trafford for regular first-team opportunities, having started just five of his 12 league games last term, scoring seven times.

Galatasaray ruled out having made a bid for the striker yesterday, but QPR are keen to add Berbatov to the seven players who have arrived this summer. They include Andrew Johnson, who is considered a reserve behind fellow strikers Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cissé.

Mark Hughes, the QPR manager, remains interested in Craig Bellamy, the Liverpool forward who appears more likely to return to Cardiff City, his home-town club, and a central defender. Hughes wants to sell about seven players including Jay Bothroyd, Heidar Helguson and D. J. Campbell.

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Newcastle United have resurrected an interest in Aly Cissokho but are unwilling to meet the £8 million valuation on the Lyons left back, who is also being keenly followed by Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur.

The France player, 24, complained that he was priced out of a transfer when he was valued at more than £13 million by Lyons last summer and has two years left on his contract. Tottenham have expressed an interest in Cissokho in the event that Benoît Assou-Ekotto, the Cameroon left back, does not extend his contract beyond next summer.

Clint Dempsey withdrew from the Fulham squad that departed for a week-long training camp in Switzerland yesterday, with the United States forward hoping to move to Liverpool. The 29-year-old has one year left on his contract.

Everton have agreed a deal to bring back Steven Pienaar from Tottenham for £4 million, about £2 million more than when the South Africa midfield player departed 18 months ago. Pienaar, 30, returned to Goodison Park on loan in January. West Ham United have expressed an interest in Yannick Sagbo in the event that a move for Andy Carroll, also a striker, from Liverpool, falls through. The Ivory Coast striker, 24, scored ten league goals for Evian last season and is valued at £3 million, but West Ham face competition from Marseilles.