Modric: I have something to offer Madrid

Luka Modric has promised to win over Jose Mourinho in the second half of the season as Real Madrid attempt to chase La Liga leaders Barcelona.



The former Tottenham playmaker, pivotal at White Hart Lane, has often underwhelmed since swapping England for Spain last August.



Although the 27-year-old has started just eight league games and registered a solitary goal since completing his 37-million-euro transfer, Modric insists he has a contribution to make to the team despite being voted the worst signing of the season in Spain in a newspaper poll recently.



"I have had a few good performances, if not in every game, but I believe I can prove I have something to offer," Modric told Croatian newspaper Sportske.



The diminutive midfielder has been kept out of the side by the likes of Xabi Alonso along with German pair Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira.



The trio were central to Real Madrid's title win last season, but Modric has played down notions that he has been overawed by the challenge of breaking into such an established set-up.



"It is very challenging to adapt to life at a big club like Madrid, but I'm not the kind of person to make excuses," Modric said.



"This is Real Madrid and I understand there is great pressure for new signings to succeed here."

Modric urges team-mate to join him at Madrid

Luka Modric wants former Spurs team-mate Gareth Bale to join him at Real Madrid next season.

The former Tottenham midfielder wants Bale to play alongside him and Cristiano Ronaldo in a midfield he describes as "unstoppable".

"It would be amazing for Gareth to come and play for Real Madrid," said Modric.

“I play with Ronaldo here at Real and the way he just runs with the ball with such confidence and defenders back off him is exactly the same as Gareth.

"It would be even better than now to have Ronaldo and Bale on the wings for Madrid. And it could make Gareth an even better player. For me, they are the best two wingers in the world.

“To have the both in the same team would be unstoppable.



The 27-year-old Croatian added: "I think he can do it. He is certainly good enough to play at the highest level. I hope he will come to us. He's a top player."

Modric, who joined the Spanish giants at the start of the season in a deal worth £33m, revealed that he and Bale often spoke of playing at a higher level when playing together at White Hart Lane.

“We used to talk and I know he wants to play Champions League football every season and has a big dream of winning the Champions League.

“Madrid would be a great club for him to achieve his dreams."

Bale's form, which has made him one of the most feared players in the Premier League, will make it difficult for Spurs club to hold on to their prize asset and manager Andre Villas-Boas has conceded as much.

"At the moment he is performing extremely well for Spurs and we are amazed at what he can do for us. He is on to a great career," Villas-Boas said.

"Obviously Tottenham as a football club want to keep him here for as long as we can but we understand players like this have propositions and a market which is the nature of the game."

Modric valuation still not met

Andre Villas-Boas says Tottenham are still waiting for an acceptable offer for Luka Modric and he expects the midfielder to return to first-team training if the asking price is not met.

Modric has been training separately as he waits to resolve his future, having made it clear to Spurs that he would like to leave this summer.



Real Madrid have been linked with a swoop for the Croatian but still 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 that Tottenham are not to blame.



The head coach 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 told Sky Sports News after Sunday's 1-0 friendly victory over Watford, which Modric missed.



"These boys are at a different level in terms of their preparation, concentration and commitment.



"I think the player has to understand that 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 the second time we have been through this situation.



"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."



Asked if Modric could be involved at the start of the season, Villas-Boas added: "Obviously he will have to raise his fitness level, and the sooner that we can have him reintegrated mentally and then physically, we will then see how things go."

Tottenham fine Modric

Tottenham Hotspur have issued separate fines to Luka Modric for missing training on Friday and refusing to board the flight for the club's pre-season tour of America.

ESPN understands Spurs have ordered Modric to report back for training on Monday and plan to fine him a third time should he fail to attend. The total would amount to £160,000 already if Spurs decide on the maximum punishment.

The Croatia midfielder, having failed to secure his desired move to Chelsea last summer, has resolved to leave White Hart Lane and is now determined to secure a move to Real Madrid. Tottenham have accepted, and publicly acknowledged, that the 26-year-old should be allowed to leave, but only if their asking price is met.

Spurs want a fee close to £40 million, rather than the £35 million frequently suggested, although there may be some negotiation. However, it is understood that, to date, Real Madrid have offered only £27 million plus fringe players or add-ons up to a total value of £32 million.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will not do business at that price, and manager Andre Villas-Boas was earlier quoted as telling Spanish newspaper AS that Modric was "wrong" to act the way he did and that his actions would "go against him".

ESPN has been told, though, that Villas-Boas' comments were part of an off-the-record briefing to the Spanish journalist and that the Portuguese feels badly let down that they were reported.

Villas-Boas in Modric blast

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has criticised midfielder Luka Modric as rumours of a departure from the club intensify.



Modric tried to quit Spurs for Chelsea a year ago under the then management of Harry Redknapp, and this summer appears keen on a switch to Spanish champions Real Madrid.



Reports have suggested that the Croatia international has failed to travel with Spurs on the tour of America - something Villas-Boas has eluded to in the Spanish press on Sunday.



Speaking to AS, he is reported as saying: "I think Modric is wrong. This will go against him. He has worsened the situation with what he's doing and now the chairman (Daniel Levy) is very angry.



Andre Villas-Boas "I think Modric is wrong. He has worsened the situation with what he's doing."



"This is also not a good time for Daniel Levy, who is in the USA at the moment, because his wife is ill."



Villas-Boas also admitted Modric would be a major loss if he leaves Spurs.



"He's good, very good. I tried to sign him last summer for Chelsea. He will be a big loss. He's a player who can make the difference, who gives a lot of clarity to the play when the team needs it and who can play in several positions," he said.



Tottenham were unavailable for comment when contacted by Press Association Sport on Sunday morning.

Spurs want £40m from Real for Modric

Tottenham may now be finally ready to sell Luka Modric, as a leading agent has told ESPN that the club will accept anything close to £40 million for the midfielder.



Spurs chairman Daniel Levy made a big effort to keep Modric a year ago when Chelsea were willing to buy him at that price but, after the North Londoners missed out on the Champions League and Modric reiterated that he wanted out once more, he has been told that he can go if the fee is right.



New manager Andre Villas-Boas is looking to make his own additions to the playing squad, while Gylfi Sigurdsson was signed on Wednesday to give Tottenham another midfield option.



An insider told ESPN: "The feeling is that Modric, no matter how talented, doesn't score enough goals from his position. It has been suggested that Real Madrid are after him, but I am not so sure. It sounds more like clubs are being alerted that Modric can now be bought.



"Chelsea and Manchester United wanted Modric a year ago, but again there is no certainty that either club will pay the price. However, it seems more likely that Modric will be sold if a club comes close to Spurs' asking price.



"The club have a new manager who wants to buy his own players and the sale of Modric can significantly help in that direction."



Reports on Friday suggest that personal terms would be not be an issue should Real Madrid decide to move for the Croatian, but that the Spanish club's valuation of Modric is someway short of what Tottenham are expecting.



A year ago, Harry Redknapp hinted that it might make sense to get a good price for Modric and reinvest in new players, but Levy stood firm on the asking price and the Croatian stayed.



Spurs may now be forced to lower their valuation for Modric, and there is every chance a compromise fee might attract revised interest in the player from another Premier League club.