Spurs fine Modric due to absence



Modric fined by Spurs



Spurs playmaker, Luka Modric, has been fined for refusing to train as well as his absence from the club's preseason tour of the US.

The Croatian who wants to join La Liga champions Real Madrid, did not report for training last week and was not on the plane that left for the US on Saturday.

He did, however, train at Tottenham's Essex base on Monday and is expected to report daily for training there.

He was fined two weeks wages which is around £80, 000. Modric, who has four years left on his current contract, openly stated his desire to move to Chelsea last season but Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy refused to let one of the club's star players to leave.

Now it looks more likely that Levy will let Modric leave but only for the right price.

Spurs are looking at a figure closer to £40 million for the Croatian midfielder but the best offer Real Madrid have come up with at this stage is £27 million plus a couple players that the Spanish champions are looking to get rid of.

The big spending Paris Saint-Germain have been monitoring the situation and can definitely match Tottenham's asking price for the player. The club will play games against New York Red Bulls, Liverpool and LA Galaxy while Luka Modric reports to the clubs training ground.

New Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas expressed his anger at Modric on Sunday saying that he is wrong and only worsening his situation.

Though Villas-Boas did acknowledge the fact that Modric will be a major loss to the club.

Modric's representatives held talks with Real Madrid today to discuss the deal, though Modric may hand in another formal transfer request if the situation is not resolved quickly.

Modric set to make big money move to Real Madrid

According to reports from Croatia, Luka Modric is close to agreeing a £28 million pound deal from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid. It is said that the transfer is currently at an advanced stage, although Spurs are pushing for a figure in the region of £35 million. Last season. Modric made it clear that he wanted to leave White Hart Lane and had his sights set on a move to Chelsea, but chairman Daniel Levy persuaded the Croatian to stay for atleast another season. Manchester United, Paris St Germain as well as Chelsea were all said to be interested in making a move for the Croatian playmaker. Its said that PSG put in a bigger bid than Madrid but that Modric would prefer a move to the Spanish champions.

AVB appointed new Spurs manager



Welcome to White Hart Lane

 Andre Villas-Boas has been unveiled as the new Spurs manager after signing a three year contract just weeks after Harry Redknapp. But his appointment drew criticism from former Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle who did not think Spurs would go in this direction and believes AVB should gone away from English football to reinvent himself. Though Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy believes he has found the man to take them forward and who has a shared vision for the future of the North London club and is prepared to open the chequebook to help Villas-Boas add to an already strong team and reaffirm his position as one the best coaches in Europe. As head coach Villas-Boas will have total control over the transfer policy at the club and has wasted no time by completing an £8 million deal for Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi  Sigurdsson with a deal for Ajax's Belgium defender, Jan Vertonghen, likely to follow. He has a also made it a priority to sign atleast one big name striker, with Spurs exploring the possibility of making a permanent move for Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor after a successful loan spell at White Hart Lane last season. Though, it looks as he is resigned to losing his midfield maestro, Luka Modric, who looks set for a move to either Real Madrid or Chelsea after indicating that he wants to leave. He also has concerns over his two goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Heurelho Gomes as well as the future of club captain Ledley King who has battled a troublesome knee injury. Villas-Boas certainly has a lot to do and a lot to prove, especially after his failure to succeed at Chelsea, but only time will tell if he succeeds or not.