Luka Modric. -Photo by AP

LONDON: Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas insists Luka Modric will only be sold if his club receive an offer that matches their valuation of the Croatia midfielder.

Modric is keen to leave White Hart Lane after Tottenham's failure to qualify for the Champions League and Villas-Boas confirmed that three teams, believed to be Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, have all expressed an interest.

Tottenham rejected an offer of around 30 million pounds ($46.9 million, 38.2 million euros) for the 26-year-old from Chelsea last year and it has been reported they will only consider bids of 35 million pounds more.

Modric, resting after Euro 2012, was absent as Tottenham kicked off their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 friendly win at Stevenage on Wednesday but Villas-Boas took the opportunity to underline his club's position on the Croatian.

“There has been continuous interest from three different clubs in Luka. But it is important for Tottenham to hold onto their rights,” Villas-Boas told The Sun newspaper.

“His situation will continue as it is until the price is right. It's important to understand his feelings. We have been speaking and I understand his point and he understands the club's point.”

Modric's desire to leave last year caused a rift with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and briefly prompted then boss Harry Redknapp to drop the Croatian while he came to terms with the club's refusal to sell him to Chelsea.

But 12 months on, Villas-Boas, who was in charge at Chelsea at the time, believes the situation will be resolved in less antagonistic fashion.

“Luka is an intelligent person and understands the club has to defend his value their values, rights and interests,” he said.

“It's a difficult situation for the club but we have been co-operative by openly saying we are willing to listen to offers.

“But the offer has not been met to what the chairman wants. If that is met there won't be any problems.”

Opinion

Editorial

Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

KARACHI, with its long history of crime, is well-acquainted with the menace. For some time now, it has witnessed...
Appointment rules
06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

IT appears that, despite years of wrangling over the issue, the country’s top legal minds remain unable to decide...
Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....