• Premier League

Modric won't face United - Redknapp

ESPN staff
August 22, 2011
Luka Modric is reported to have gone on strike according to a number of Monday morning newspapers © PA Photos
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Luka Modric has not travelled with the rest of the Tottenham Hotspur squad for Monday night's game at champions Manchester United.

Modric has been desperate to leave Spurs all summer, with Chelsea having bids of £22 million and £27 million rejected, and manager Harry Redknapp has revealed the player is not is the right state of mind to play.

The game will be Tottenham's first of the Premier League season, with their opener postponed due to riots in London. Modric did not feature in last week's 5-0 Europa League win at Hearts, which would have made him ineligible for Chelsea's Champions League campaign.

Chelsea are expected to unveil the signing of Spanish winger Juan Mata from Valencia in the next 24 hours, while new striker Romelu Lukaku will also be paraded in front of the press. Redknapp is hoping the signing of Mata is the end of the Modric saga, but Blues owner Roman Abramovich is seemingly ready to spend again.

There is now the suggestion that Israel international Yossi Benayoun could become part of the Modric deal, and he has indicated on his Twitter page that his future should be decided by Wednesday after one injury-ravaged season at Stamford Bridge.

Redknapp now finds himself in the same situation as Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger with Cesc Fabregas, having a player who is essential physically fit to play but not mentally. It's a situation which makes a move to Chelsea all the more likely.

Redknapp told talkSPORT: "He's got a little bit of an injury. There's a possibility he could have played through it. But at the moment his head's not in the right place.

"I think Daniel [Levy] has said he will sit down with Luka in a month or so and have a chat with him and a look at his contract. I want to keep him for sure. I just felt that if he didn't want to be here that much that maybe we might have to sell him. If people don't want to play for you, you might have to sell him and go and get three or four players in.

"As a player I couldn't be happier to keep Luka Modric, he's a fantastic footballer and as I've said many times you couldn't meet a nicer boy."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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