Redknapp: I´d be lying if I said Modric was happy

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp says he would be lying if he claimed Luka Modric was happy after being denied a transfer.

Croatia international Modric met with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on Wednesday and was told the club had no intention of letting him join Chelsea or Manchester United.

Tottenham hope their strong stance will ensure prized asset Modric remains in north London, but Redknapp conceded the 25-year-old playmaker was far from satisfied upon his return to pre-season training.

“He’s going to remain here, but there is no point me saying he’s walked in here today and everything is great, he’s happy and he’s going to stay,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“The kid is a bit confused at the moment and it’s not been easy for him.”

“I’d be telling you lies if I said he’s happy and he doesn’t want to go and play for whoever wants him – I think there are three or four of the top five that want him. But we want to keep him here.”

“The chairman wants to keep him, I want to keep him and we need him if we’re going to progress. We need him and, as he said to me this morning, we need to add to him.”

Redknapp confirmed he and Levy were keen to strengthen the squad prior to Spurs mounting a bid for Champions League qualification.

“We are looking to improve and we need to,” Redknapp said.

“It’s no good people talking about Champions League football if we don’t improve the team, we know that.”

“We have to make way with one or two going first, we are just a little bit overloaded in one or two areas, but if we can do that we will look to bring one or two in.”

“We know what we need and it won’t be for the lack of effort.”

“Daniel always does it, in the end we always spend money here and improve the team and he will do it again this year.”