£1 Billion for Modric

Well it doesn't look like Luka Modric will be packing his bags, moving away from Tottenham and heading up North to Manchester or staying in the area and joining Chelsea. Not unless United or Chelsea, the two clubs linked with the Croatian midfielder are prepared to pay £1 billion for him.

Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager has led this Spurs side to a Champions League quarter final, beating one of the most successful European teams in AC Milan on the way. Luka Modric played a vital part in both helping Tottenham into the top four last season and their brilliant, over achieving success of reaching the latter stages of the prestigious European competition this year. The Tottenham manager emphasised the invaluable qualities that the 25 year-old holds in the side with a rather exaggerated expected transfer fee:

"I wouldn't want to sell him for £100 million, not even for a billion.

"He's the hub of the team."

He made his point. Of course, Redknapp would sell Modric for £1 billion - not that anyone - not even Manchester City would pay that ludicrous amount. But it is a clear statement that Modric is not for sale, and if an offer were to come in, it would have to be quite a substantial amount.

Modric only signed a long term contract at Spurs last year, and the players' representative, Mario Mamic reiterated Redknapps sentiments:

"These are just rumours. Luka has a contract until 2016 and Tottenham have no plans to sell him. He has an excellent relationship with coach [Harry] Redknapp and only signed a contract extension with Spurs last summer."

The rumours that Mamic spoke of refer to apparent interest from several English clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea as well as Italian side Juventus and Inter Milan. Certainly, Modric has his fans; he is a fantastic player and has been described by the former Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins as one of the best midfielder's in the Premier League. Gerard Houllier, the current Aston Villa manager also heaped praise on Modric:

"Not only is he a very hard worker, he has a good brain and he provided some calmness and composure to the midfield. His passing was neat and his contribution was outstanding. He was not only winning the ball, he was passing well. We thought that he was very influential. He did not just work hard, he made the other people play well around him."

 He may not be worth £100 million or £1 billion, but Luka Modric is certainly a fantastic asset to Tottenham, and understandably has the best teams in the world watching him.

£7 million Play Maker to Liverpool?

lAs was previously reported on HERE, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon and new fan favourite Rafael van der Vaart may be forcing Niko Kranjcar out of Tottenham.

The 26 year old has started just one Premier League match this season which was in the weekend defeat at Bolton, and as he was hauled off at half time for fellow bench warmer David Bentley, it seems Redknapp is unimpressed with the former Portsmouth play maker.
Now, the players father has said that interest from Liverpool would certainly sway the Croatians head, and force him to make a decision on his future away from White Hart Lane.

"If he didn’t have ambition, he would stay at Tottenham and vegetate for the next three years”

“He has a great deal, but one just can’t match money with his ambitions.

“Niko would like to stay in London, but he is also ready to leave England if he could move to Serie A.

“Liverpool is a club which would interest him but, then again, why not Italy?”

Liverpool seem to lack the creativity and flare that Kranjcar could inject, and for only around £7 million, Hodgson would be wise to make a move soon so his team can continue their revival after beating Premier League Champions on Sunday.

Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale and Lennon force out Kranjcar at Tottenham

When they qualified for the Champions League last season, it was questioned whether Tottenham would have the strength in depth and enough fit and willing players to play twice in a week. Those doubts didn't last for long, however, because they added just the right amount of quality to their already strong team.

They were able to spend a relatively small amount of £14 million in the summer transfer market, bringing in free agent William Gallas, defensive midfielder Sandro from Internacional for £6m, Stipe Pletikosa on loan from Spartak Moscow and the so far brilliant Rafael van der Vaart for £8m from Real Madrid.

Another important factor for Tottenham during the summer was that they weren't forced into selling any of their top players; Gareth Bale was rumoured to have interested a couple of big teams including Manchester United, but he instead extended his Totenham contract. Luka Modric too. The Croatian is extremely highly rated at White Hart Lane, and for good reason, so interest from other clubs was inevitable, but Tottenham held on the their star man.

However, with the arrival of the crowd pleaser and Tottenham fan favourite, Rafael Van Der Vaart at Spurs, as well as the brilliant form of Gareth Bale, and Modric and Lennon guaranteed a start, that leaves no room for Niko Kranjcar. The Croatian hasn't started a game for Tottenham so far this season, and it has been rumoured that if this continues, he will seek a new club - with possible suiters already interested.

Monaco, as well as two Premier League clubs are said to be interested with the creative playmaker, with Liverpool and Aston Villa rumoured to be the two English clubs.

Gerrard Houllier will of course be looking to build on the squad he inherited recently, and the 26-year-old could be the perfect player to add some more creativity and flare to the Villa line up, after losing James Milner to Manchester City in the summer. But if they are to purchase the Spurs midfielder, they will have to find around £8 million - about four times what Tottenham paid for him in 2009.

At the moment, Liverpool are having trouble keeping their heads above the water in the Premier League, and with their debt ravaged American owners hoping to sell, they may find it hard to find £8 million to pay Tottenham.

With Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale and Lennon all doing so well in the Tottenham midfield, it seems inevitable that Kranjcar will have to find a new club soon, as sitting on the bench may become an unwelcomed routine for the attacking midfielder. Is Tottenhams midfield so full of quality that they are having to let go of some of it? It can only be a good sign when you are letting good players go because they can't get into the team.