Crouch: Spurs need Modric

Spurs striker Peter Crouch hopes Luka Modric will stay at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham fans gave the Croatia international a warm reception when he came on in the 24th minute of their final pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, which Spurs won 2-1.

Chelsea are the odds-on favourites to sign Modric this summer with the Manchester clubs both also available.

Tottenham team-mate Crouch, though, hopes the fans’ reaction will persuade Modric to stay.

“I think he might have been a bit concerned about which way it would go but he got a great reception,” Crouch said.

“That certainly makes it harder for him that the fans are right behind him. He knows that the fans here love him and hopefully he can stay here for as long as he can.”

“He’s going off for international duty now and we were saying to him: ‘make sure we see you on Thursday’ and we hope he does.”

“He is a top player. We love him at the club. He is a great lad to have about. We all want him to stay.”

Tottenham have sat back and watched their rivals dig deep into their pockets this summer, but Crouch insists Spurs already have the players to finish in the top four.

“It’s amazing when you look at what the other teams around us have spent. It’s a hell of a lot of money,” he said.

“I look around our dressing room though and there are a lot of players there who I wouldn’t swap for theirs.”

“I still believe that we have more than enough ability. The aim has to be to get into the top four. It’s going to be difficult.”

“There are some top sides up there that have strengthened but I would still put ourselves right up there with a chance.”

England international Crouch has once again been linked with a move away from Spurs this summer, but with interest in him cooling, he insists he is happy in North London.

“There is going to be speculation about your future but I’m extremely happy at this club.”