SOCCER:LUKA MODRIC will fly to South Africa today with the Tottenham Hotspur squad for their three-game pre-season tour with the uncertainty over his future at the club set to be prolonged into next month.

Chelsea’s second bid for the Croatia international, which was worth €31 million, has been dismissed as “pretty poor” by Harry Redknapp, with the club’s hierarchy having effectively rejected the offer out of hand simply by reiterating Modric is not for sale. The player is only one year into a six-season deal worth €52,000 a week but is determined to move to Stamford Bridge during the transfer window.

Yet Redknapp is convinced the player, whose relationship with the chairman Daniel Levy appears to have fractured beyond repair, will remain professional even if his desire to move is frustrated. “I wasn’t in the meeting between the chairman and Luka, but my relationship with him hasn’t changed,” said Redknapp. “No matter what happens I will always think very highly of Luka. He’s as good as gold: a great boy and not a troublemaker in any shape or form . . . He’ll just get on with his job, and let’s see what happens.”

Modric trained as normal at Chigwell yesterday having learned Chelsea’s second bid, an improvement of around €6 million on the opening offer, had been unsuccessful. His suitors will return with a third offer, though the logistics of completing any deal would most likely ensure no resolution is possible until next month. Spurs depart for Johannesburg and play Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday and Orlando Pirates on Tuesday, with a third match on July 23rd. Chelsea depart for their tour of Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong on Sunday.

Redknapp has suggested the situation would not be altered even if Modric hands in a formal transfer request. “I wouldn’t think that would have any effect on it, really,” he said. “We don’t want to sell him. I still think £27 million is a pretty poor offer for a player of that ability. What’s the point of offering €20 million-odd for Luka? I may as well go to Manchester United and offer €15 million for Wayne Rooney. It’s nowhere near what I would value him at, but he’s not for sale. That’s the end of it.”

Club captain Ledley King underwent surgery on his left knee on Monday night. King has been troubled by chronic knee problems throughout his career and he had an arthroscopy on his left knee.

Guardian Service