Modric in limbo as Spurs play hardball
Modric has been training separately as he waits to resolve his future, having made it clear to Spurs he would like to leave this summer.
Real Madrid have been linked with a move for the Croatian but nothing has been finalised, several weeks after Villas-Boas admitted talks had been held with several clubs about a move.
Chairman Daniel Levy is not prepared to sell such an important player on the cheap and Villas-Boas believes Modric must accept Spurs’ stance.
Villas-Boas says he can then start to work with the rest of the group as normal, but it looks doubtful that he will be ready for the start of the season.
“He has been training separately. Now it is important for Luka to feel mentally ready to come back to first-team training,” Villas-Boas said after yesterday’s 1-0 friendly win over Watford, a game Modric missed and Jermain Defoe scored in.
“These boys are at a different level in terms of their preparation, concentration and commitment.
“I think the player has to understand the club cannot do anything about other clubs’ offers.
“We have a value and an interest that we have to defend, and we are waiting to reintegrate the player if the offer is not matched.”
It was a similar tale for Modric last summer when he had set his heart on a move away from the club but ended up staying and playing an important part in Tottenham’s season.
Villas-Boas has no doubt that he would again get his head down and commit to Spurs if there is no move during the current transfer window, but he admits the uncertainty is not ideal.
“We will try to solve it as soon as possible,” he said. “It is obviously difficult for him, but the chairman is defending the club’s interests and the player has to understand that, and the fact that the offer does not meet the chairman’s demands means we can’t do anything. The player is a good professional and hopefully he will return to the team.”
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole, meanwhile, has rejected rumours that contract talks over a new deal at Stamford Bridge have stalled.
Cole’s future has been the subject of speculation with the 31-year-old entering the final year of his Blues contract. Reports suggested Chelsea had yet to open talks with Cole over a contract extension, with the player supposedly holding out for a deal worth £200,000 a week.
However, Cole took to Twitter yesterday to dismiss talk of his pay demands and explain that talks have only just got under way.
The left-back wrote: “Contract talks have not stalled just started, and 200k are you for real, I’d never ask for that.
“Like I said before don’t listen or always believe what media say they aint got a clue.”
Elsewhere the Brazilian Football Federation says no English club has been in contact about trying to sort out a medical for Lucas Moura during the Olympics, while Sao Paulo say they will fight hard to keep him.
The 19-year-old has attracted the attention of several clubs in Europe this summer and it is understood that Manchester United are in pole position to secure his signature.
However, Brazil’s FA (CBF) has dismissed reports of Moura being given permission to undergo a medical with United.
“We haven’t received any request from an English club regarding that,” the CBF said. “In case we do receive such a request, we won’t allow the player to leave Brazil’s training to undergo the medical.”
Sao Paulo maintain that no talks are currently taking place over a proposed move as they look to hold on to the winger, although they admit it would be wrong to rule out a departure.
Vice-president Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes said: “He will certainly return to Sao Paulo. There is no negotiation going on.’’
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