But that's not to say the club won't attempt to land either Dirk Kuyt or Ruud van Nistelrooy before the start of the new season.
Berbatov may just be the signing to replace Freddie Kanoute who moved to Spain a year ago. Egyptian Ahmed Mido filled that void single-handed last season, but his 18-month loan from AS Roma didn't lead to a permanent agreement despite 11 goals in 24 starts as Spurs finished the season fifth in the Premiership.
So far, since Martin Jol was installed as Tottenham head coach, he's signed former Dutch international Edgar Davids, and South Korean full back Young Pyo Lee from PSV Eindhoven. Davids wasn't selected to go to Germany this summer, but Lee featured in all three of Korea's group games, although they missed out on progressing to the second round following defeat to Switzerland on Friday.
Holland have done a lot better than the joint-hosts in 2002. After a relatively slow start against Serbia & Montenegro that still produced three points, they defeated Ivory Coast to secure their progress into the last 16.
Jol wrote in The Sunday Times: ‘Holland have young and inexperienced players, who can drive them on during the World Cup. They are probably not a top side but there is a togetherness about the Dutch team that has sometimes been lacking in past tournaments.'
Holland coach Marco van Basten has hinted that van Nistelrooy, his first choice centre forward could get dropped to the bench for their second round clash with Portugal tonight, the winner of which will face either England or Ecuador in the next round. The younger option Kuyt, who has also attracted the attention of Liverpool and Newcastle United, could get his chance to play up front at the Manchester United striker's expense.
Van Nistelrooy described his first ever World Cup goal, scored against the Ivory Coast as "the biggest goal in my career, no doubt about it." (The Guardian) But van Basten told reporters this week: "Ruud has not done the job that I wanted him to do. I've told him he's worked well in training — but when it has come to the matches it has not been what I required." (The Sun)
"I put my side and Ruud put his. We spoke about the expectations I have of him. He agreed with what I said and said he would do everything he could to make sure he did well." (The Sunday Times)
If one or the other were to join Tottenham it would complete a forward line of players in the Dutch side playing for London clubs.
‘With Chelsea's Arjen Robben stretching them at one extremity and Arsenal's Robin van Persie at the other, teams facing the Dutch forward line must feel they are experiencing something akin to being drawn and quartered,' wrote Jonathan Northcroft in The Sunday Times.
After Holland's second game in the group stages, van Basten said: "We were given a fierce examination by Ivory Coast and we passed." (The Times)
And after the final match, last Wednesday, their goalless draw with Argentina, he added: "I have seen progress in my team tonight because Argentina had been playing Top of the Pops football."
Rafael van der Vaart who came into the midfield in place of Mark van Bommell said: "The team spirit has really improved." (The Guardian)