Rafa: Spurs can cope without Modric

Rafael van der Vaart believes Tottenham is good enough to make the top four of the Premier League, even if Luka Modric leaves.

It would be a blow for Harry Redknapp to lose Modric, and Van der Vaart does not want his team-mate to join Chelsea.

However, Van der Vaart believes there are other players in the squad capable of filling the void if Modric departs, and has set his sights on Champions League qualification.

"There is a lot of speculation about Luka and we don't know when he is going to leave," said Van der Vaart.

"I hope he will stay, but we still have plenty of other fantastic players and a team good enough to finish in the top four.

"We still have Niko Kranjcar, Jake Livermore, we have fantastic players.

"If he leaves then Kranjcar is a fantastic player and he's a little bit like Luka, he can play there.

"We have a good squad and when we play like we did against Hearts, we know we can win against everybody.

"Manchester City has spent a lot of money this summer, and so has Manchester United. But we are different at Tottenham, and it's not a problem for me."

Michael Dawson has also expressed his desire to see Modric remain at Tottenham beyond this summer.

"You want to keep your best players. It is as simple as that," said Dawson.

"I have said it before and the chairman has come out and said he is not selling. The lads certainly want him to stay."

Spurs has so far been quiet in the transfer window but talks are progressing to bring in Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City, and Dawson would welcome such a move.

"He is a top player and whoever comes in is always going to improve the squad," said Dawson. "If you want to do well, you can't have enough quality."