Spurs keep Modric but miss out on Cahill
London clubs leave it late to buy
TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp revealed his club succeeded in their summer long battle to keep hold of midfielder Luka Modric but only after Chelsea submitted a last ditch £40m bid.
The Croatia international agitated for a move across London as soon as it became apparent Chelsea were interested in his services, and went as far as requesting to be left out of the Spurs side which was heavily beaten by Manchester City last Sunday.
The 25-year-old will now remain at White Hart Lane, at least until January, but the Tottenham squad looks to have a number of gaping holes after the deadline day departures of five first team players and the failure to land primary defensive target Gary Cahill from Bolton.
England striker Peter Crouch and midfielder Wilson Palacios were offloaded to Stoke for a combined total of £18m, while Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton were both snapped up by Aston Villa, the former on a season long loan and the latter joining Alex McLeish’s side for £4m.
Redknapp was able to conclude a deal for West Ham’s Scott Parker, with David Bentley moving on loan in the opposite direction, but the major triumph for the Spurs manager was the victory in his fight to keep hold of Modric in the face of Chelsea’s late money spinning offer.
He said: “The chairman stood firm over Luka. I think £40m was apparently offered. Whether that is true or not, it is what I heard.
“It is a big offer to turn down, that’s for sure. I am delighted the little man is still here.”