Manchester United's interest in the Tottenham striker has been well documented and the club were understood to have conducted a medical with the player this evening, appearing to give them the edge in the race to sign the Bulgarian.

The Red Devils have been spurred into urgent action after their rivals Manchester City staged a stunning late bid to hijack the move.

Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who is heading the Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover of Manchester City, is "hopeful" a deal can be agreed after agreeing a fee of over £30million with Spurs.

"I think it's agreed between ourselves and Tottenham," City manager Mark Hughes told Sky Sports News.

"Now really it's down to the boy to make a decision I think."

The in-demand Berbatov spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson at United's Carrington training complex earlier today and Old Trafford remains his most likely destination.

But negotiations have been complicated by reports in Spain that Real Madrid have entered the fray, offering £36.5million for the Bulgarian.

In a fresh twist to a dramatic day in Manchester, City revealed they have also lodged bids for Valencia striker David Villa and Stuttgart forward Mario Gomez.

There were no developments on Robinho's move to Chelsea, although a successful bid from Real for Berbatov could push the transfer through.

Tottenham had been the busiest Premier League club on transfer deadline day - until City launched their astonishing triple swoop.

Spurs completed the signing of £14million Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko while Croatia right-back Vedran Corluka also arrived at White Hart Lane from City.

Defender Corluka, 22, joins Croatia team-mate Luka Modric at Spurs, after putting pen to paper on a deal thought to be worth £8.5million.

Liverpool have captured Spain winger Albert Riera from La Liga side Espanyol for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Anfield after choosing Rafael Benitez's side over a host of other clubs, including neighbours Everton.

He joins Vitor Flora at Liverpool after the 18-year-old Brazilian, who holds an Italian passport, agreed a free transfer.

But striker Andriy Voronin and full-back Steven Finnan have departed Anfield.

Voronin agreed a one-year loan deal with German side Hertha Berlin while Espanyol have moved for Finnan on a two-year contract.

Not to be outdone by their Merseyside rivals, Everton this afternoon confirmed the signing of French striker Louis Saha from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

Saha has signed a two-year deal with an option for a third year after passing a medical over the weekend.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has taken Algeria left-back Nadir Belhadj on loan from French club Lens, while Newcastle have signed Valencia's Uruguayan midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez on a one-year loan deal.

West Brom have swooped for AZ Alkmaar defender Ryan Donk on a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent deal.

The central defender passed a medical this afternoon before completing his move to The Hawthorns.

The signing of Donk follows the arrivals of his Holland Under-21 team-mate Gianni Zuiverloon and Swedish defender Jonas Olsson from Dutch top-flight sides Heerenveen and NEC Nijmegen respectively.

NEC have signed Dutch striker Collins John on a free transfer from Fulham, subject to a medical.