Redknapp reiterates Modric stance

By foxsports
Published

Harry Redknapp has again reiterated Tottenham's stance that Luka Modric is not for sale.

Modric has not been able to play this season, with niggling ankle, groin and hamstring injuries the official reason why the wantaway playmaker has not been available.

Redknapp, however, revealed on Monday that the 25-year-old has been unsettled by Chelsea's dogged pursuit of the player and was not included in the squad for the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on Monday night as a result.

Modric did not train with his team-mates on Wednesday morning, but could feature in tomorrow's Europa League play-off second leg against Hearts despite the Londoners being 5-0 up from the first game.

That would drastically reduce the prospect of Modric moving to Chelsea as it would cup tie him for the Champions League group stages, but Redknapp could not care less.

"We are not in the Champions League so it won't affect us," the 64-year-old said.

"I'm not bothered about anyone else. He is here, we love him, he is a great player and I need him back playing.

"The chairman has made it clear that he is not for sale so he has to crack on with it now and I'm sure he will.

"Will he play tomorrow? Possibly. We will see how his hamstring is on Thursday. Certainly I'm looking to have him fit for the weekend against Man City.

"He is not going to go away and play for his country next week if he doesn't play for Tottenham, that's for sure, because he needs to play."

Chelsea is reported to have lodged a £30million bid for the player this week - the third of the summer - but Redknapp emphatically reiterated that the Croatian is not for sale today.

"The chairman says he is not for sale. He has made that clear.

"Yesterday when I spoke to him he said that Luka definitely wasn't going and that was the end of the matter as far as he was concerned.

"I keep seeing that the chairman is trying to push the price up (for Modric).

"He is not trying to push the price up. He is not for sale. He has made that clear. He doesn't want to sell him."