Luka expects to be at Spurs till the summer

[Kendall]

I never thought it was all about money with Modric. It's a factor, but it wasn't all about the money. I don't know if he would still want to go to Chelsea, given their downward curve, but it's clear he felt Levy went back on his gentleman's agreement and broke Modric's trust.

I can understand why Modric wouldn't want to lock himself into another extension with us, if that's the kind of guy he's signing up with, regardless of the fans and how well Spurs are doing.

Modric could play for any team in the world and he knows that.

That said, with 4 years left on his contract, I'd expect us to keep him for at least another year beyond summer.

 

[Mr Pink]

I never thought it was all about money with Modric. It's a factor, but it wasn't all about the money. I don't know if he would still want to go to Chelsea, given their downward curve, but it's clear he felt Levy went back on his gentleman's agreement and broke Modric's trust.

I can understand why Modric wouldn't want to lock himself into another extension with us, if that's the kind of guy he's signing up with, regardless of the fans and how well Spurs are doing.

Modric could play for any team in the world and he knows that.

That said, with 4 years left on his contract, I'd expect us to keep him for at least another year beyond summer.

To be fair I reckon there is definitely an element of truth in this.

 

[McFlash]

His agent probably always saw us as a stepping stone, a shop window.
We've improved beyond expectation and it's kinda thrown a spanner in the works.

 

[Kendall]

It was Modric who made the first 'shyster' move though, by going to the press and saying he wanted to leave. That didn't help matters and Levy decided to play ultimate hardball, as we all know he likes to do.

It's just a messy situation now. A relationship that's probably not going to be repaired. I don't see Modric signing a new deal at all.

 

[gibbospurs]

It was Modric who made the first 'shyster' move though, by going to the press and saying he wanted to leave. That didn't help matters and Levy decided to play ultimate hardball, as we all know he likes to do.

It's just a messy situation now. A relationship that's probably not going to be repaired. I don't see Modric signing a new deal at all.

But why wouldnt he sign a new contract? He will obviously be getting more money for probably signing a 5 year deal. If he still has 4 years left i think he will think levy has the balls to keep me here for the full length of the contract why not pocket the extra 2m a year. Also modric maybe able to have a clause in it regarding a certain team (say barca) coming in for a certain amount.??

 

[StartingPrice]

I never thought it was all about money with Modric. It's a factor, but it wasn't all about the money. I don't know if he would still want to go to Chelsea, given their downward curve, but it's clear he felt Levy went back on his gentleman's agreement and broke Modric's trust.

I can understand why Modric wouldn't want to lock himself into another extension with us, if that's the kind of guy he's signing up with, regardless of the fans and how well Spurs are doing.

Modric could play for any team in the world and he knows that.

That said, with 4 years left on his contract, I'd expect us to keep him for at least another year beyond summer.

It was Modric who made the first 'shyster' move though, by going to the press and saying he wanted to leave. That didn't help matters and Levy decided to play ultimate hardball, as we all know he likes to do.

It's just a messy situation now. A relationship that's probably not going to be repaired. I don't see Modric signing a new deal at all.

I agree with most of what you say. But, regarding the Gentleman's Agreement, as pointed out in the Summer, if he felt that strongly about it, when Dan Lavy made a statement that none of our top players would be sold (and it would take £50 m for him to even answer the phone about Modric), why didn't he/his agent say anything. Why didn't they go to the press/Levy expressing their concerns that it appeared Levy was turning his back on a Gentleman's Agreement? Why did they repeatedly say he was more than happy at WHL, not looking to leave and confident he could fulfill his footballing ambitions at WHL?

I think we all know the answer: it didn't even occur to them until after he was tapped up - at which point they kinda forgot that a Gentleman's Agreement that he could consider offers if it was beneficial to the club and to himself, kinda meant that a club should approach THFC, make an offer, and if Levy though fook me I like the sound of that, Modric could talk to the appropriate party. It did not mean that, after being tapped up, Modric could give an interview to the press about how much he loved Chelsea and wanted to move there, and then we he found that that (the being tapped-up and the blabbing to the press - all before Levy had even received an offer), had inordinately pissed Levy off, he could suddenly remember this and start blubbing like a baby about how he'd been betrayed.

And herein lies the problem, and the area where Roy has a point: I have just got back to really loving seeing him play, in a totally relaxed way, and it only takes someone to stir it a bit, and we replay the arguments of the Summer, with ever increasing heat in them.

But why wouldnt he sign a new contract? He will
obviously be getting more money for probably signing a 5 year deal. If he still has 4 years left i think he will think levy has the balls to keep me here for the full length of the contract why not pocket the extra 2m a year. Also modric maybe able to have a clause in it regarding a certain team (say barca) coming in for a certain amount.??

That said, I think Gibbo is right - I suspect Modric realises, in his heart of hearts,that his Gentleman's Agreement piece was ever so slightly :bs: for reasons given above, and, also realising that Levy is not to be fooked with, I think they will reestablish a working relationship. Afterall, Levy holds the whip-hand for the enxt feew years, has shown he won't be messed with, and has stated that Lewis will back him all the way, even if it means Modric in stand land.So, why not reach a new, better paying deal, and a clause that he can go for x-amount, say to Barca :shrug:

 

[mpickard2087]

I dont think he should get a new contract yet, I dont think he deserves it as its too soon after his shenanigans in the summer. Lets see if, when we have Champions League sewn up wink he can go next summer without mouthing off or agitating for a move and then if he does get something tied up in time for next Xmas.

 

[StartingPrice]

I dont think he should get a new contract yet, I dont think he deserves it as its too soon after his shenanigans in the summer. Lets see if, when we have Champions League sewn up wink he can go next summer without mouthing off or agitating for a move and then if he does get something tied up in time for next Xmas.

I don't think, really, it is about him deserving it - I think it is about being beneficial to the club to quell any potential unrest. A new, improved deal with guarantees by both parties would do that.

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't think, really, it is about him deserving it - I think it is about being beneficial to the club to quell any potential unrest. A new, improved deal with guarantees by both parties would do that.

I dont see how we can quell unrest, say we give him £100,000 in the next few weeks. In the summer Chelsea (or whoever, I have heard/seen Mancini would love Modric at City) come back in and offer upwards of £150,000 a week and he may well want to go again. I can see this summers circus happening again.

I think we wait until he shows that he is at least satisfied about playing for us in the CL and shows some commitment, and then give him a new contract. Besides delaying a new contract will save us a bit of money, put it towards a new striker/top top top top top player :razz:

 

[jonathanhotspur]

His agent probably always saw us as a stepping stone, a shop window.
We've improved beyond expectation and it's kinda thrown a spanner in the works.

Yes. I've just wandered into the middle of this but this is about the size of it. I don't like anyone trying to bend us over a barrel but this is especially irritating for me because I don't go along with the idea that this guy is our best player. Not by a long shot. I have no desire to listen to him carping again this transfer window. A song for Luka? Kiss my arse.

 

[stemark44]

The biggest problem for us is definitely the breakdown in relationship between Levy and Modric.
Levy gave him a bit of a bitch slapping and Luka didn't like it one little bit.

I don't think he will sign another contract with us.

 

[Kendall]

Agree. We will sell him eventually, but for a top 3 side to sell their best player, you're looking at 50m+ and that's at the end of the season, not mid season during our best PL performance on record.

 

[tony_parkes]

I never thought it was all about money with Modric. It's a factor, but it wasn't all about the money. I don't know if he would still want to go to Chelsea, given their downward curve, but it's clear he felt Levy went back on his gentleman's agreement and broke Modric's trust.

I can understand why Modric wouldn't want to lock himself into another extension with us, if that's the kind of guy he's signing up with, regardless of the fans and how well Spurs are doing.

Modric could play for any team in the world and he knows that.

That said, with 4 years left on his contract, I'd expect us to keep him for at least another year beyond summer.

I may be unpopular but the man (yorkshire boy) speaks sense. If you were (Luka) you would'nt sign a new deal with Levy either. If I was his agent I'd be telling him to bide his time till the end of the season also.

He could be playing for anyone, hopefully us, if we finish top 4, we stand a better chance.

 

[bananafish]

I am sure that Modric always saw us as a stepping stone and that was partly how we (Comolli) convinced him to come to us in the first place - to do a Berbatov. I have never felt that he had a connection to us the way even VdV has, though this is as much an issue of personality.

I don't like selling our best players - but if he is feeling stale and treading water, I would much rather have a young, hungry player who wants to fight for the cause in every game.

We are not Chelsea or Man City; like Dortmund and other resource-constrained clubs (even Man United!), we have to strengthen through selling high, buying low - and buying better.

If we could sell Luka for 45m+ and sign someone like 23-yo Ever Banega in the summer, I wouldn't be unhappy. Luka is a wonderful player but there are more than a few up-and-coming classy AMs and deep-lying playmakers with great potential out there, if we are clever.

Even if those players are not as fine a maestro on the ball, it's possible they may be more productive in direct goals and assists, or better defensively, or prouder to wear our shirt. Luka isn't some irreplaceable cog in our team that cannot be improved upon; nor is he the heart and soul of this team.

The problem naturally is whether we can spot these gems, and then whether we can attract them even with 45m+ in hand. Eek

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I am sure that Modric always saw us as a stepping stone and that was partly how we (Comolli) convinced him to come to us in the first place - to do a Berbatov. I have never felt that he had a connection to us the way even VdV has, though this is as much an issue of personality.

I don't like selling our best players - but if he is feeling stale and treading water, I would much rather have a young, hungry player who wants to fight for the cause in every game.

We are not Chelsea or Man City; like Dortmund and other resource-constrained clubs (even Man United!), we have to strengthen through selling high, buying low - and buying better.

If we could sell Luka for 45m+ and sign someone like 23-yo Ever Banega in the summer, I wouldn't be unhappy. Luka is a wonderful player but there are more than a few up-and-coming classy AMs and deep-lying playmakers with great potential out there, if we are clever.

Even if those players are not as fine a maestro on the ball, it's possible they may be more productive in direct goals and assists, or better defensively, or prouder to wear our shirt. Luka isn't some irreplaceable cog in our team that cannot be improved upon; nor is he the heart and soul of this team.

The problem naturally is whether we can spot these gems, and then whether we can attract them even with 45m+ in hand. Eek

Surely selling him to Chelsea would be more than counter productive for us? We are getting stronger whilst they are in transition. Helping them get stronger would be dumb.

A Modric type player is not easy to find that is why Chelsea offered 40m for him. If there were many out there then surely they would have looked elsewhere once we had told them to jog on a couple of times.

 

[Spurger King]

Surely selling him to Chelsea would be more than counter productive for us? We are getting stronger whilst they are in transition. Helping them get stronger would be dumb.

A Modric type player is not easy to find that is why Chelsea offered 40m for him. If there were many out there then surely they would have looked elsewhere once we had told them to jog on a couple of times.

I think that's the key part. As brilliant as Modric is for us, it simply may not be possible to keep hold of him much longer unless we significantly improve the wages. However that doesn't mean to say we can't control where he would go, and selling to Chelsea would be an awful decision..weakening us and strengthening them. If he does go, it should be to a foreign club.

I think bananafish is right about Modric seeing us as a transitional club though. Didn't Bilic suggest to Modric that he should join Spurs instead of Chelsea because it would help him to establish himself by getting first-team football?

 

[Gilzeanking]

The biggest problem for us is definitely the breakdown in relationship between Levy and Modric.
Levy gave him a bit of a bitch slapping and Luka didn't like it one little bit.

I don't think he will sign another contract with us.

This was my , somewhat maligned feeling at the time . All speculation of course...but from what evidence we have , I think Levy mishandled the crucial meeting .

 

[robin09]

For him to refuse to play for us in the first game, and ask to miss the 2nd game of the season is inexcusable.

I was willing to forget rather than forgive, until this interview came out. Despite us being the 3rd best team over the first half of the season (and possibly higher if he'd turned out against United when we had hardly anyone in midfield available), he still seems keen to leave.

If he refuses an improved contract with higher wages, then he can go fuck himself. Sell him abroad to whichever team WE choose next summer.

 

[Spurger King]

If he refuses an improved contract with higher wages, then he can go fuck himself. Sell him abroad to whichever team WE choose next summer.

Anzhi Tomashafanaka would be a good choice.

 

[StartingPrice]

1) I am sure that Modric always saw us as a stepping stone and that was partly how we (Comolli) convinced him to come to us in the first place - to do a Berbatov. I have never felt that he had a connection to us the way even VdV has, though this is as much an issue of personality.

2) I don't like selling our best players - but 3) if he is feeling stale and treading water, I would much rather have a young, hungry player who wants to fight for the cause in every game.

4) We are not Chelsea or Man City; like Dortmund and other resource-constrained clubs (even Man United!), we have to strengthen through selling high, buying low - and buying better.

5) If we could sell Luka for 45m+ and sign someone like 23-yo Ever Banega in the summer, I wouldn't be unhappy. Luka is a wonderful player but there are more than a few up-and-coming classy AMs and deep-lying playmakers with great potential out there, if we are clever.

Even if those players are not as fine a maestro on the ball, it's possible they may be more productive in direct goals and assists, or better defensively, or prouder to wear our shirt. Luka isn't some irreplaceable cog in our team that cannot be improved upon; nor is he the heart and soul of this team.

The problem naturally is whether we can spot these gems, and then whether we can attract them even with 45m+ in hand. Eek

1) I think that is simplified supposition,. actually - but a lot of folk are repeating it. Berbatov was in a top national league, playing CL football, and appeared in the final of that comp. Modric was hardly comparable. Many saw Modric as weak and frail, and his signing was considered as a big risk - there is no reason to suppose he was believing after six months (ala Berbatov) that he could start agitating for a new club. It is more likely that he was sold on the idea of joining a pretty good and aspirational club and seeing where the ride took him - all indicators are that until we failed to qualify for the CL last season he was more than happy, which is exactly the opposite of Berbatov. I actually think that he was fine until tapped up. Which, TBH, makes it even more infuriating that anyone should suggest that now we should meekly sell to the Chavs.

2) It's not really the issue, here. The issue is that having WON in the Summer, certain posters suddenly felt the need to reiginite the whole issue, with a bent towards bend over backwards to accomodate a sale at a modest price based on a highly ambiguous piece of journalism that can be interpreted and misinterpreted to beggary.

3) If he is feeling stale and treading water playing for a club that is in unchartered water, for them, and challenging at the very top, well, quite frankly, he's a dick.

4) No-one has ever debated that. What was argued was that we might as well give up if we are gonna give up and sell our best players as soon as they are tapped-up with a view to using the player (who owes us primary loyalty until sold) to help force us to accept a low-ball offer. That in itself was enogh for any right minded Spurs fan to be adamant that we should not, absolutely not, under any circumstances sell him that bunch of chavs - the come from a corrugated shed, FFS :bang:

5) I said pretty much the same thing once the TW closed in the Summer. No-one, insofar as I can see, is being blindly intransigent, here. What we are doing is saying we hold all the cards, and, quite clearly, are a team on the up. If we can persuade him to sign an improved contract, why on Earth shouldn't we do it - just because some SCers have congenital inferiroity complexes about the size of their club Eek If he is having none of it, we could still keep hold of him for another year, and either way screw as much out of the deal as possible (certainly not £22 million that some would have accepted in the Summer because Chelsea wanted us to). And if we do sell him it should preferrably be abroad, and never, ever, to that bunch of Chavs.

I think that's the key part. As brilliant as Modric is for us, it simply may not be possible to keep hold of him much longer unless we significantly improve the wages. However that doesn't mean to say we can't control where he would go, and selling to Chelsea would be an awful decision..weakening us and strengthening them. If he does go, it should be to a foreign club.

I think bananafish is right about Modric seeing us as a transitional club though. Didn't Bilic suggest to Modric that he should join Spurs instead of Chelsea because it would help him to establish himself by getting first-team football?

I agree with this.
It's not the negotiating that bothers me, it is the fact taht some Spurs fans would, seemingly, be happy for us to not negotiate like a top team.
Both sides could use the example of United and Ronaldo. Yeah, even United can be bullied out of a player. But they didn't just immediately cave in, they didn't sell within their own league, and they financially left Real with something of a publicly displayed stinging ring-piece. I would expect nothing less if/when we sell Modric.