Spurs: ‘Modric is not for sale’

Modric has said he wants to join London rivals Chelsea in the pursuit of Champions League glory [AFP]

English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have said Croatian midfielder Luka Modric is not for sale “at any price” after the player was quoted as saying he wanted to join cross-town rivals Chelsea.

Despite rejecting a 30 million dollar offer from Chelsea for the player, and rumoured interest from Manchester City and Manchester United, Spurs’ chairman Daniel Levy insisted they would keep their star.

But he will have a battle on his hands. With all three potential suitors able to offer Champions League football next season – unlike Spurs – the Croatia international has made it clear he wants to move on if a suitable offer is made for his services.

Not for sale

“In respect of Luka Modric, we are not prepared to sell at any price, to Chelsea Football Club or any other club,” said Levy in a statement on the club’s website.

“We made our stance on this issue abundantly clear in writing to Chelsea,” he added.

“They chose to ignore it then made the offer public.”

“For the avoidance of any doubt let me reiterate that we shall not enter into any negotiations whatsoever with any club regarding Luka.

“We now consider the matter closed.”

Ambition

Modric, who joined Tottenham from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008, said in an interview with Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper he wanted to leave Spurs but would like to stay in London.

“Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner,” he said.

“They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.

“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 is not about money, it is about ambition. When I came to England I was dreaming about winning titles, that is still the same.

“Tottenham are a big club with good players and a good manager but I want to fight for the championship.”

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp dubbed Chelsea’s initial offer as “ridiculous” while insisting that Modric, whom he said was “irreplaceable” was not for sale.

Modric has played 120 games and scored 12 goals for the London side. He signed a new six-year deal at the club last year.