Manchester City are set to spark a three-way auction for Luka Modric after declaring their intent to sign the Tottenham midfielder.
Roberto Mancini has pin pointed the skilful Croat to be the man to bring European success to The City Of Manchester Stadium in both the Champions League and Barclays Premier League next season and is ready to start immediately gazump Modric’s other suitors by bidding at around £30million.
But the Italian won’t have an easy run to Modric as Chelsea and Manchester United are determined to sign the 25-year-old and shouldn’t be put off by a £30 million bid.
Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich, in particular, is an admirer of Modric and will match City all the way in a bidding war that Tottenham will find hard to resist, which could ultimately end up with a sky high fee being paid, with City ready to treble Modric’s £55,000-a-week salary and Abramovich set on Champions League success.
Unfortunately this could rule out a bid from Manchester United, with Sir Alex Ferguson fears of being priced out of the move becoming a reality after the completion of their £20 million move for Blackburn versatile defender/midfielder.
Harry Redknapp has branded Modric ‘irreplaceable’ and chairman Daniel Levy insists no stars will be sold this summer as he again fights to qualify for Europe. But his failure to do so this year has left Spurs vulnerable to bids.
Modric said: ‘If there will be an offer which will be good for Tottenham and for me also, then a transfer is of course possible.’
He again failed to commit to the club on Friday, saying: ‘I’m a Tottenham player and will be in London on July 7 to begin preparing for the season, but I want to say that transfers could occur later.’
