Daniel Levy, the Tottenham Hotspur chairman, accused Sir Alex Ferguson of arrogance and hypocrisy last night after making a formal complaint to the Premier League about Manchester United's pursuit of Dimitar Berbatov.

Levy also criticised Liverpool's attempts to sign Robbie Keane, branding the approach of both clubs as “disgraceful” in a scathing attack.

Tottenham have turned down United's £20 million offer for Berbatov - as well as a lower bid from Liverpool for Keane, the Ireland forward - and Levy is furious that Ferguson said that he expects a deal to be concluded.

“This is a blatant example of sheer arrogance and interference with one of our players,” Levy said. “The behaviour of both clubs has been disgraceful. We told both clubs very early on that we had no interest in selling Robbie or Dimitar and that they should refrain from pursuing the player.

“Both clubs arrogantly chose to ignore this request and we now have evidence that both clubs have systematically been working to prise the players away from us, outside of Premier League rules of conduct.”

The boot has been on the other foot for Ferguson this summer, with his club forced to fend off Real Madrid's pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo. United filed a complaint to Fifa, world football's governing body, on Real's efforts to unsettle the Portugal forward.

Levy said of Ferguson: “It is also probably one of the worst offences by any manager in the Premier League to date and is unbelievably hypocritical given his recent comments in respect of Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.” Tottenham made an official complaint about United's conduct yesterday, having already submitted one in relation to Liverpool.

The League will write to the three clubs this week asking for their observations before considering whether to issue any charges. United have said that they will co-operate with the League.