Jermain Defoe today admitted that the Modric saga is likely to rumble on once the transfer window re-opens in January.
Much has been made of the Croatians insistence to leave White Hart Lane this summer after three years with the club, yet no trophies to show for it.
Chelsea were the clear front-runners for his signature but failed to tempt him to Stamford Bridge due to Daniel Levy’s stance that the 25-year-old won’t be be sold for any price.
He stood by his word, rejecting bids of £22m, £27m and £40m over the summer as the West London outfit settled for Raul Meireles instead.
With the continued speculation surrounding his future, Modric sat out the Europa League games against Hearts and the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United due his head ‘not being right’.
Redknapp even admitted in the wake of the 5-1 defeat to Manchester City that Modric asked to sit out the match, his performance that day suggesting he probably should have done.
However, with the window slammed shut, he looked like his former self against Wolves on Saturday and, playing alongside Parker, looked more like the player that deserved his Spurs player of the Year accolade.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted that a renewed bid is unlikely in January but his statement isn’t likely to deter the gossip pages being filled with a reported imminent White Hart Lane exit.
Defoe confessed that without the speculation, it was good to have his team-mate focused on his football again but was he right in saying that the saga will rear it’s ugly head again in January?
No, I don’t think he was. Everyone knows that, come January, the rumours will kick back into overdrive once more but in saying what he said, he is basically preparing us for the worst come the new year.
Fingers crossed, the storm has blown over and Modric can focus on Spurs from now on and with a new contract likely to be discussed sooner rather than later, the improved deal will hopefully persuade the former Dynamo Zagreb midfielder that his future lies at White Hart Lane.
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