ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS insists the Luka Modric transfer saga will not disrupt preparations for his first match in charge of Tottenham this weekend.

Real Madrid are closing in on the signature of Modric after Villas-Boas revealed yesterday that talks with the Spanish champions regarding a deal for the playmaker are progressing well.

Villas-Boas played down reports that Modric, who has been pining for a transfer to Madrid all summer, is undergoing a medical in Spain, but sounded hopeful that the player’s four-year stint at White Hart Lane would end soon.

Modric, who was fined and forced to train on his own after refusing to go on tour with Tottenham, now looks set to get his dream move as a compromise deal of just over €38 million appears to be close to completion.

For the second season running Spurs have had to deal with Modric demanding to leave the club, but Villas-Boas hopes the player’s exit will be finalised soon to leave him to be able to concentrate on his Tottenham bow at Newcastle on Saturday.

“No, this is not a distraction,” Villas-Boas told a press conference. “We set out a plan for the player and we have stuck to it.

“The player is training individually and he doesn’t disrupt our environment.

“I think we will have a conclusion in the next couple of weeks.

“We expect him here to train. He is still a Tottenham player but from what the chairman has told me talks are ongoing, they stalled a little bit two weeks ago, but they have picked up recently.”

Villas-Boas would like the situation resolved as soon as possible so he can use the funds to buy a replacement for Modric and bulk up a squad that currently has only one recognised striker in Jermain Defoe.

“Obviously we have outlined a couple of solutions (for a Modric replacement),” Villas-Boas added.

“We have made initial contact with a couple of clubs but I think before this situation is resolved we can’t do anything because we already have a certain amount of players in that position.”

Villas-Boas, who was sacked by Chelsea in March after just nine months in charge, insists he is not panicking about his striker shortage and is confident that youngster Harry Kane is now good enough to play in the Barclays Premier League.

Defoe claimed earlier this week he would have to consider his future if he did not play regularly, but Villas-Boas calmed fears the striker, who scored for England on Wednesday night, could leave.

“I have spoken to Jermain and his agent about the situation. The talks were positive,” Villas-Boas said. “Obviously we are looking for one more striker because we need one. Jermain scored 18 goals last year. He was a key player and will continue to be. That’s the expectancy I have with regards to his future.”

Tottenham have been looking to sign a striker all summer, but talks with Manchester City about Emmanuel Adebayor have so far failed. Villas-Boas remains hopeful that the Togo striker, who was on loan at White Hart Lane last year, could sign next week, however.

He said: “There are talks (with City). They have been happening for quite some time.

“We have touched on different players in that position, but we have not been able to conclude a deal.

“Our focus and attention is towards that position, which we will try to sort out next week.”

Liverpool have reached an agreement with Heerenveen to sign winger Oussama Assaidi.

The 24-year-old still has to pass a medical but should that be completed without complication he will become Brendan Rodgers’ third signing since he took over from Kenny Dalglish in June.

Assaidi scored 20 goals in 68 appearances for the Dutch club and has 22 caps for Morocco since making his international debut in February 2011.

Newcastle confirmed their fourth new signing of the summer yesterday in midfielder Vurnon Anita, the 23-year-old Holland international joining from Ajax on a five-year contract.

That follows the arrivals of midfielders Romain Amalfitano and Gael Bigirimana and defender Curtis Good, and manager Alan Pardew this afternoon said he would “not mind” if trading were to now cease, particularly given the key players he has so far managed to hang on to.