Where will Luka Modric be playing his football next year? That is the question on many football fans’ lips at the moment, particularly Tottenham Hotspur fans.
After enjoying his finest season to date in a Tottenham shirt there has been alot of speculation that the tiny Croatian could be off to the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City this summer.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has described Modric as “irreplaceable”. Redknapp, along with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy are very keen to keep their prize asset.
“I wish to make it absolutely clear, as I have said previously, that none of our key players will be sold this summer. We are building a team for the future to consistently play at the highest level and retaining quality players is crucial to that”, said Levy.
However, recent comments made by Modric to The Daily Mail suggest that the Croat does want to move to a bigger club. The little midfield magician, who arrived from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008 for a reported £16.6m deal claimed: ‘I want to leave Tottenham as friends. I have enjoyed my time there, but now it is right for me to look at another club.
‘I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that, if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer.’
This news is sure to come as a shock to Spurs associates and fans alike.
Spurs have already seen an offer on the table from Chelsea; believed to be in the region of £22m. Spurs quickly rejected this offer but there are surely more to come.
Redknapp claimed: “We definitely don’t want to sell him. He is worth an awful lot of money. That first offer of £22m was laughable. This is a special player – as good a midfield player as there is anywhere – certainly in this country.”
It seems inevitable then that an improved offer from moneybags Chelsea is beckoning, probably around the £30m mark.
And Modric, who was voted the clubs player-of-the-year last season said: “Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.
‘I want to stay in London. I am very happy here and so are my family. I like the city.’
This is music to Chelsea’s ears, they are a big club based in London who are always in contention for the Premier League amongst other competitions and can offer Champions League football, which Modric is keen to play again next season after getting a feel for it with Spurs in the season just gone.
Perhaps Modric’s desire to stay in London has left Manchester compatriots United and City just monitoring the situation, without making any formal bids.
‘I don’t want to have an argument with Tottenham,’ said Modric. ‘The supporters have been very good to me and I have enjoyed my time playing for the club, but it is for football that players leave clubs and move. It has happened to Tottenham before. It is normal for a player to dream about playing for a bigger club.
Tottenham are a big club, with good players and a good manager, but I want to fight for the championship. Spurs will always have a place in my heart. My experiences in the Champions League have left me with the desire for more.’
Redknapp though is refusing to give up the fight and insists that Spurs can match Modric’s ambition: “He sees the chance to win the league and play Champions League football, but we want that as well.
“We have to show him our ambition. If we can add one or two players, we can have another great season.”
“We have to do something about it and keep him happy and keep him at this club.
“An unhappy player at your club – if his mind is not right he’s not going to be playing well – is a massive problem. Hopefully we can speak with Luka.”
It seems to me and many others though that 25 year old Modric’s mind has already been made up and he is not moving from it; he wants a move to Chelsea.
Discussions must now occur between Modric and chairman Levy to arrange a transfer providing the fee is right.
Levy however will be very reluctant to let Modric leave, re-iterating time after time that he is not for sale. Modric signed a new six-year deal in the summer of 2010 so Spurs will be under no pressure to sell him for a cheap price.
Back when Modric signed that contract extension he claimed:
“Tottenham Hotspur gave me my chance in the Premier League and I want to go on to achieve great success here with them. Yes, there have been enquiries from other big clubs, but I have no interest in going anywhere. Last season’s Top 4 finish was an indication of where we are as a Club and I feel I can continue to improve and go on to achieve everything I want to at Spurs.”
It is interesting to see what a difference a year makes.
The transfer of Luka Modric from Spurs to Chelsea in the summer is inevitable; it is just a matter of time and money…
Will Ridgard