Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has praised want-away midfielder Luka Modric for maintaining a professional attitude during the summer transfer window.

Modric has been linked with a move away from White Hart Lane since the end of the season with rivals Chelsea the preferred desitination for the diminutive playmaker.

The West London outfit have seen two bids of £22m and £27m rejected for the 25-year-old and Redknapp was more than impressed with the players’ attitude during the clubs pre-season tour of South Africa.

“His attitude has been first class. He has got on with it,” Redknapp said on Sky Sports News.

“There would be players when they have wanted to move that really wouldn’t have wanted to be playing today and not giving 100 per cent.

“But he only knows one way to play. He is a fantastic boy and a great professional.

“He worked hard today and his attitude couldn’t be better.”

Spurs won their remaining game in South Africa 3-0 where Rafael Van der Vaart stole the show with a double either side of half-time.

And Redknapp has admitted he would love to be challinging for honours come May and he feels it is important to keep hold of players such as Van der Vaart and Modric if they club want to match the ambitions of the in-demand Croatian.

“We can’t just be selling our best players off,” Redknapp added.

“Certain players just have that extra bit of class, like Rafa and Luka. We have some special players and we have to keep special players.

“They make the difference, so we have to keep Luka.”

Modric, whose contract expires in 2016, captained Spurs for the side’s final game in South Africa.