Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe he is expecting speculation surrounding team-mate Luka Modric to re-surface when the transfer window re-opens in Janaury.

Modric was involved in a summer-long chase by Chelsea, who saw three bids of £22m, £27m and £40 rejected for the diminutive playmaker. 

The speculation caused a major distraction to manager Harry Redknapp who saw his pre-season plans undermined by the continued talk of a potential move.

Nonetheless, chairman Daniel Levy stood by his word and rejected every advance by Chelsea, a move that has been welcomed by Defoe but he expects the saga to rear its ugly head once more at the turn of the year.

“There’s always speculation – it’s part and parcel of the game – and it will start again in January,” said the striker.

“We just wanted the window to close, and he’s here now and that’s that.

“He’s just got to be professional. You can’t go into games sulking because you’ll get found out and let the team down.

“But Luka’s a good professional and, if you didn’t know there was speculation about him going and you saw him about the place, you’d never know.

“He’s been good. In pre-season, maybe other players would have said, ‘I’ve got an injury and I don’t want to play’, but he didn’t do that and I don’t think there’s many players who would have done that.

“Chelsea’s a massive club and there was an opportunity for him but it didn’t happen and now he’s got to get on with playing football because he’s a big player for us.”