Soccer:Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says an offer of €40 million would not be enough to prise Luka Modric away from White Hart Lane. That is the figure Chelsea are reportedly set to offer Spurs for the Croatia international, having had two bids turned down already.
Offers of €25 million and €30.5 million have not been enough to force Tottenham's hand. The Blues believe there will become a point, however, when Spurs relax their stance, especially as Modric has indicated that he is looking to move on.
Another big-money approach is believed to be on the way, with Tottenham's resolve set to be tested once more.
Redknapp, though, insists the club have no intention of selling and claims the numbers being talked about at the moment do not add up in his eyes.
"If we were looking at selling, it wouldn't be my valuation," he told
Sky Sports News
when asked whether £35 million (€40 million) would be enough to prise Modric from his grasp. "I think he is worth an awful lot more money than that.
"But we are not looking to sell Luka. We need to keep our best players, so he is a player we want to keep if possible. It's in the hands of the chairman of the football club (Daniel Levy), it's not my decision. I work with him as the coach, but the chairman says he is not for sale so we will have to wait and see. He is quite determined, if we can, to hang onto him.
"It's a difficult situation. It's a difficult one for Luka and it's a difficult one for Tottenham."
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, meanwhile, has admitted his admiration for Anderlecht's teen sensation Romelu Lukaku but played down the likelihood of making a move for the Belgium striker.
The Blues have been strongly linked with the 18-year-old, who is valued at around €22 million by his club.
Lukaku is already a regular for his club and a full international while he's also been touted as the new Didier Drogba by some for his powerful style of play.
"Lukaku had a magnificent season in Belgium," he said. "We are pondering every decision because we don't want to go into the market and make mistakes. We have plenty of availability in terms of forwards who can play in different positions - with (Nicolas) Anelka, with (Salomon) Kalou, Didier, Torres and (Daniel) Sturridge.
"This is the reality at the moment of our squad. We need to find the correct balance and this is why pre-season is important. On that decision, to bring in another forward, at the moment I don't think we will."
