Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas doubts the club will make a renewed bid for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric when the transfer window re-opens in January.
The Blues were strongly linked with a move for the Croatian over the summer but their three bids, £22m, £27m and £40m, were flat-out rejected by Spurs.
A renewed attempt to snare their top target was expected in January but the former FC Porto coach has poured cold water on any speculation linking them with a move for the 25-year-old.
“No I don’t think so. The market is closed and I won’t speculate what happens in January,” the Portuguese said when quizzed on the subject.
The news will likely be a welcome relief to chairman Daniel Levy who stood by his word over the summer and insisted the player wouldn’t be sold at any price.