Berbatov's future hangs in the balance after Ramos axing

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov could on his way out of White Hart Lane next week after Juande Ramos axed the unsettled Bulgarian for his side's 2-1 defeat against Sunderland.

Berbatov was left out of Saturday's match because Ramos decided his star striker has been not in the right frame of mind since handing in a transfer request in an attempt to force a move to Manchester United.

With the close of the transfer window looming at the end of the month, Ramos planned to hold a meeting with Berbatov on Sunday to discuss whether he has a future with Tottenham.

United and Barcelona remain in pursuit of the forward and Ramos may decide now is the time to cash in on Berbatov before he becomes any more of a distraction.

"The player didn't play because he wasn't in the right condition, this is what he told me before the game when I spoke to him," Ramos explained.

"We'll have to wait and see, speak to him, then make a decision.

Some players can play under these conditions, others can not. Berba is in the latter category." Tottenham failed to find their top gear at White Hart Lane without Berbatov.

Following an uninspiring first half they trailed Sunderland to a Kieran Richardson strike on 55 minutes.

Yet midfielder Jermaine Jenas equalised on 73 minutes with a close range tap-in after Crag Gordon parried a drive by Croatian Luka Modric.

However, it was Djibril Cisse had the final say seven minutes from time.

Frenchman Cisse came on for the final 25 minutes for his debut, and scored with a header from a Daryl Murphy cross.

It secured Sunderland's first top-flight win at White Hart Lane for 39 years.

"It's a good start," manager Roy Keane said. "Djibril only trained with us on Friday so I put him on the bench.

"It's good to look behind me and see him there. He gives us good options if things aren't going our way.

"Someone told me he scored on his debut for Liverpool but I couldn't care less what he did in the past!

"This is a good result for us, especially given our away form last season. But we won't be dancing in the streets of Sunderland just because we have beaten Tottenham away."

Tottenham's problems will not be made any easier by the fact they must play London rivals and Premier League title hopefuls Chelsea next week.

Two matches without a victory is not the way Ramos expected to start the campaign. After all, they were expecting to challenge for the top four this season.

"To lose our first two matches is obviously not good," Ramos admitted.

"At 1-1 we had three further chances to score, but we did not take them. It just was not to be."

Sunderland's Keane believes Tottenham are fighting an uphill battle to break through at the top end of the table.

"I don't think any side will break into the top four this season," Keane added. "The strength in depth of the top four teams is great.

Chelsea and United are even further out of reach.

"The options that they have on the bench are frightening. However, I do think you can beat those teams on any given day." His side proved here that the gap between every side in the Premier League is certainly closing.

Sunderland and Tottenham will both step up their bid to sign new players in the next week.

Spurs will attempt to sign a new striker as a replacement for Berbatov -possibly Zenit St Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin.

Sunderland have other targets lined up, one of which is believed to be Anton Ferdinand from West Ham United.

"I have two players I am after this week," Sunderland manager Keane said. "I'd rather not discuss names, but I'm hopeful."

Sapa-AFP