Modric’s Real Madrid move is no distraction for Tottenham boss

Luka Modric has completed his move to Read Madrid. Photo credit: Stephen Pond/EMPICS

Thursday, August 16, 2012
7:48 PM

Transfer news: Andre Vilas-Boas wants Croatian’s future resolved

Andre Villas-Boas is keen that the Luka Modric transfer saga will not disrupt preparations for his first match in charge of Spurs this weekend.

The Croatian was a notable absentee from Tottenham’s training ground today as his transfer to Real Madrid appeared to move closer to completion.

The Spurs manager said earlier today that he expected Modric at the club’s training ground, but it is understood that the Croatian did not turn up.

There is nothing to suggest that the playmaker has rebelled against his employers, and although Tottenham would not confirm it, reports suggested the former Dinamo Zagreb man is in the Spanish capital undergoing a medical.

Modric, who was fined and forced to train on his own after refusing to go on tour with Tottenham, now looks set to get his dream move after Villas-Boas confirmed that talks between both sides over of a deal worth around £30million were going well.

The Spurs boss hopes the player’s exit will be finalised soon to leave him to be able to concentrate on his Tottenham bow at Newcastle on Saturday.

“No, this is not a distraction,” Villas-Boas said.

“We set out a plan for the player and we have stuck to it.

“The player is training individually and he doesn’t disrupt our environment.

“I think we will have a conclusion in the next couple of weeks.

“We expect him here to train. He is still a Tottenham player but from what the chairman has told me talks are ongoing, they stalled a little bit two weeks ago, but they have picked up recently.”

Villas-Boas would like the situation resolved as soon as possible so he can use the funds to buy a replacement for Modric and bulk up a squad that currently has only one recognised striker in Jermain Defoe.

“Obviously we have outlined a couple of solutions (for a Modric replacement),” Villas-Boas added.

“We have made initial contact with a couple of clubs but I think before this situation is resolved we can’t do anything because we already have a certain amount of players in that position.”