Modric favours Chelsea move

Luka Modric has upped the ante with transfer-shy Harry Redknapp by declaring he wants to leave Tottenham, preferably for Chelsea.

Modric is expected to be hot property on the transfer market, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City all believed to be keeping tabs on the star midfielder’s future.

Tottenham have already turned down a 22-million-pound bid from Stamford Bridge, and Redknapp has declared he is not interested in selling the Croatia international as Spurs look to return to top-flight European competition next season.

But the 25-year-old has his heart set on leaving, though he wants to stay in London.

“If somebody comes to the club and the offer is good for me and acceptable to them, then I want to leave,” Modric told the Daily Mail.

“I want to leave Tottenham as friends. I have enjoyed my time there, but now it is right for me to look at another club.”

“I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that, if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer.”

“But I won’t ask for a transfer. That would be disrespectful. I hope they can reach an agreement that is satisfactory for everyone.”

Asked about the rejected bid from Tottenham’s cross-town rivals, Modric said: “Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.”

“I want to stay in London. I am very happy here and so are my family.”

“I don’t want to have an argument with Tottenham. The supporters have been very good to me and I have enjoyed my time playing for the club, but it is for football that players leave clubs and move.”

“It has happened to Tottenham before. It is normal for a player to dream about playing for a bigger club.”