SOCCER:TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR have told Luka Modric he will not be allowed to leave this summer for Chelsea or any other club. The midfielder was informed by Daniel Levy, the chairman, at a meeting at White Hart Lane yesterday evening a move was out of the question no matter how much money is offered for him.
Modric said last month he wanted to depart Spurs in search of trophies and named Chelsea as his preferred destination. Asked if Modric had told him yesterday he wanted to stay, Levy said: “I’m just telling you what the position is – he won’t be sold. We had a very good conversation, and, as I’ve said previously, Luka Modric will not be sold.”
Chelsea had a €25 million bid rejected last month and Roman Abramovich, the owner, is expected to return with a higher offer of more than €33.5 million.
Yet Levy stated the decision to retain Modric was non-negotiable. “That’s the end of it. As I said a few weeks ago there’s no further discussion. He was on holiday so we’ve now had the conversation and he understands our position.”
Levy claimed that Modric was at ease with the decision. “He understood. I’m sure once he’s back with his team-mates, everything will be fine.”
Asked what would happen if Chelsea were to come back in with a higher offer, Levy said: “It makes no difference – this is not about money, we’re not selling our best players.”
Modric earns €50,000 a week at Spurs, whereas Abramovich was offering him the chance to triple that salary, with add-ons. In comparison, Levy operates a relatively modest wage structure at Spurs, with a ceiling of €85,000 a week for the club’s best-paid players. He is expected to increase Modric’s salary to make him the highest earner at White Hart Lane.
Chelsea may now make a move for Porto’s Radamel Falcao, which would see Andre Villas-Boas, the new manager, return to his former club to offer the €30 million required to activate the release clause.
The Colombian striker, who scored 33 times last season, hinted that Chelsea is his dream move. He said: “There is a club I dream to play for. They are foreign but I do not want to say who it is now. I prefer the Premier League as there is a better atmosphere on the field.”
Villas-Boas oversaw his opening training session as Chelsea manager after welcoming his senior squad back to Cobham for the start of pre-season preparations.
GuardianService
