da bet vitoria： In an attempt to convince Luka Modric that his ambitions can be realised at White Hart Lane, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has announced that he intends to recruit new faces this summer and remains defiant in his belief that Tottenham can retain their star assets to offset the disappointment of failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League. “I think we have to show him [Modric] our ambition, which we will do,” Redknapp said, before continuing: “If we can add one or two good players to our squad there’s no reason we can’t have another great season. Tottenham could be a great club for him to stay with for the next few years. That’s what we’re hoping for.”
da dobrowin： A number of Premier League clubs have begun what promises to be a busy summer of extravagant spending in wild fashion. Jordan Henderson has signed for Liverpool at a fee of £20million from Sunderland, Manchester United have spent a reported £16.5million on Blackburn’s Phil Jones and Newcastle have purchased no less than three players already with the transfer window set to officially reopen on July 1st.
As expected, north London has been the focus of several transfer rumours as Arsene Wenger plans to renege on his previous aversion to the transfer market as others from across the continent look to exploit Tottenham’s Europa League consolation by prising their best players away with the lure of Champions League football. Despite Gareth Bale’s sudden emergence, and Rafael van der Vaart’s spectacular maiden season contribution, Modric has been and remains Spurs’ most gifted talent and his open interview where he revealed an immediate desire to join Chelsea was released last weekend to little surprise.
On signing an extended deal to 2016 exactly 12 months ago, the Croatian stated: “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 (2009-2010) 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.” Although it will be difficult for even the most understanding of Tottenham fans to swallow Modric’s recent volte-face, a year of Champions League experience and appearances at both the San Siro and Santiago Bernabeu have whetted the 25 year-old’s appetite, and it seems likely that a suitable offer – in the region of £30million – will ultimately tempt Daniel Levy and the Spurs board to reluctantly sanction his departure.
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Even though Levy and Redknapp have appeared publicly implacable, they must remember that there are no loyalties in football, and that Modric deserves the chance to realize the glory he is capable of at another team with compatible aspirations they can realistically achieve. Highlighting perennial local rivals, Chelsea, as a possible destination will undoubtedly incense the White Hart Lane faithful more than had he suggested a possible move abroad, but I believe the decision should be left to the player himself seeing as his club have taken a step back in their progression.
I for one hope to see him move on sooner rather than later, before his age prevents him from obtaining the silverware his abilities warrant, and it would be in Redknapp’s best interests to begin preparations for the next campaign without Modric in mind. His financial value should dictate a sizeable profit from the £16million outlaid three years ago and Redknapp is safe in the knowledge that he maintains a healthy relationship with a generous and progressive chairman who will strive to replace the midfielder will similar quality should the player’s exit transpire. For now, the ball is in Modric’s court, but Spurs would be wise to let last year’s Fans’ Player of the Year transfer his words in to actions, or risk intensifying a saga which will likely hinder planning for a particularly important impending season at the Lane.
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