SOCCER:TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR remain adamant that Luka Modric will not be allowed to leave this summer and have strongly denied the player's claims that Daniel Levy, the White Hart Lane chairman, has broken a gentleman's agreement with the Croatian.
In the latest episode of a transfer saga that has become increasingly acrimonious since Modric stated his desire to join Chelsea last month, the 25-year-old midfielder has accused Levy of threatening to make him “sit in the stands” if he refuses to accept the club’s stance.
Modric, who said Levy had given a “twisted account” of their meeting at the ground last Wednesday, also claimed that the Spurs chairman had reneged on a promise he made 12 months ago in relation to any future interest from a “bigger club”.
“I reminded the chairman of our gentleman’s agreement when we were in Dubrovnik last summer and I agreed a contract extension with Tottenham,” Modric told Sportske Novosti. “At that time, I had an open chat with Levy – that if a bigger club came in with a concrete offer, we would consider it and agree the best solution for all concerned. Now Levy doesn’t want to talk to me and said there is no possibility that I can leave Spurs. He threatened me – he said if I didn’t accept the club’s stance, they would make me sit on the bench or in the stands.”
Tottenham claim there was never a gentleman’s agreement and have questioned why there would have been one when Modric was committed to signing a six-year contract with the club. Modric, who joined Spurs from Dinamo Zagreb for €18.7m in 2008, has five years of that €51,000-per-week deal to run, and Levy believes he should honour the contract and forget all thoughts of moving.
The Spurs chairman spoke as if the issue had been put to bed after the meeting on Wednesday. Chelsea, however, remain determined to sign the Spurs playmaker – they are expected to return with a bid in excess of €33.8m after their offer of €24.8m was rejected – and there is no sign Modric has changed his position. If anything, his desire to move appears to have hardened after his talks with Levy.
“A lot has been published in the press about the meeting with Levy, who gave the public a twisted account of what happened,” Modric said. “I must say that I am genuinely disappointed about what Levy said to me. He didn’t care about what I was telling him. It all only convinced me further that I was right to consider moving on to another club. I hope that eventually he will understand the situation and that we will reach an agreement and go our separate ways in an appropriate manner.”
Levy has a reputation for being a tough negotiator and there is no indication that he will back down. Modric’s agent has suggested that his client will not lodge a transfer request to try to force the issue, which points to an impasse unless Chelsea make a substantial bid and Spurs accept there is nothing to be gained from keeping a player against his will.
“There is no doubt that Chelsea want me – they sent a concrete offer to Tottenham,” Modric said. “I know that the new Chelsea boss said he wants me in his team. Of course I am flattered by this interest in me – it’s a club that all players dream of joining, fighting for every competition available.”
Aston Villa say they have yet to receive an offer from Arsenal for Stewart Downing and remain determined to hold on to the England international. There has been speculation that Arsenal have bid €20.3m for Downing, which would be a €3.4m improvement on the offer that Liverpool had turned down last week, but Villa have denied that is the case and insisted the London club have yet to make a formal approach.
Alex McLeish, the Villa manager, has said that Downing is not for sale, although it remains to be seen whether he will try to force the issue by submitting a transfer request. The situation is complicated for Villa because Downing is now into the final two years of his contract and he has made it clear he has no intention of signing an extended deal.
