Luka Modric, the Tottenham midfielder, will miss Spurs’ Europa League clash with Hearts tomorrow with a groin injury, reigniting rumours that he’s moving closer to an exit from White Hart Lane.
Reports have intensified in recent days suggesting that Chelsea have upped the ante in their bid to sign the Croatian international. Both Yossi Benayoun and Salomon Kalou have been touted as possible pawns for the Blues to use in part-exchange, along with £27M.
Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, has confirmed that Modric will sit out their qualifier in Scotland, remarking,
‘Luka has a groin problem, he’s not fit’, before insisting nothing had changed with regards to the 25-year-old’s availability:
‘I don’t know where it’s at and Daniel (Levy, Spurs chairman) has said all along that he is not going to sell Luka so that is probably it as far as I know. There is no sign of him going.’
However, sceptics will argue it is more than a coincidence that Modric has picked up this knock ahead of Spurs’ involvement in Europe. If he features at this stage of the Europa League he will be unable to participate for Chelsea during the Champions League group stages.
Redknapp will undoubtedly want Modric back in his side for the weekend, though, as his side head to Old Trafford to face champions Manchester United on Monday night, before hosting City the following Sunday.
Perhaps Modric really is injured, perhaps Tottenham really are adamant that he’s staying in North London. However, we’ve all seen this kind of tactic before and it stinks of Spurs keeping their options open for the remaining fortnight of this summer transfer window.
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