Dimitar Berbatov to enter into discussions over a £120,000-a-week contract extension

Dimitar Berbatov is believed to be on the verge of beginning contract talks with Manchester United to land a deal worth about £120,000-a-week.

The former Bulgaria international has scored 14 goals in 15 appearances in the Premier League this season, and is currently at the top of the goalscoring charts.

It has been a rocky road for the former Tottenham Hotspur man, who was widely regarded as a flop during his first two seasons with the club - when he gained the dubious distinction among United fans of being spoken of in the same breath as Diego Forlan.

Now, though, with only 18 months left on his existing contract, The News of the World claims that the hitman - who turns 30 at the end of this month - intends to sign a longer contract than the one-year deal the club usually offer players of his age.

However, it is thought that the in-form marksman could be prepared to sign a one-year deal if the club were to offer him a weekly wage of around £120,000-a-week.

Another reported option for United is to offer him a contract on a lower wage, but over a longer period than a one-year extension.

Berbatov's rich vein of goalscoring has seen him rise to 15th in the Castrol Rankings, up from 38th the previous month.