Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp praises http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luka-Modric-c22857, admits interest in Arsenal target Juan Mata
Luka Modric, the 25-year-old Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, was unavailable for the clash against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Croatia-c2879 international was close to a move away. Redknapp revealed that
Modric was suffering from illness, because of which he had to miss the friendly on Saturday.
Redknapp said while speaking to reporters:
“Luka wasn't feeling well. He came in yesterday [Friday] and wasn't great, he came in this morning [Saturday] to see the doctor and he had ulcers on the back of his throat.”
The English manager said he was extremely impressed with the midfielder’s attitude throughout the summer transfer window. Despite being linked to and wanting a move to London rivals http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786, Modric has not handed in a transfer request or insisted on leaving
White Hart Lane. Redknapp admitted he was pleased by the Croatian midfielder’s loyalty despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.
He continued:
“Again, I can't fault his attitude, he's been first class. Obviously it's been a difficult period for everybody with him. He's trained well and worked hard.”
Redknapp said he considered Modric to be a professional in every sense of the word, after the player’s hard work in training for the Spurs in the previous season and most recently during pre-season. So far Tottenham Hotspur have rejected two bids made by
Chelsea for their prized midfielder, with the Blues expected to make a third in the near future.
The Tottenham Hotspur boss did not deny his interest in long-term http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 exit this summer and was thought to be heading towards the Emirates Stadium. The Spurs have however
entered the race for the versatile attacking midfielder, with Redknapp openly admitting his interest in the young http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 international.
Redknapp said:
“[Mata] is a player that we like. So do Arsenal and so do other clubs. I went to watch him when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 Under-21 played Spain and I thought he looked fantastic.
The chairman has been dealing with it so where it is I don't know - I don't deal with them transfers.”
Mata joined Valencia from Real Madrid B in the summer of 2007 and managed to cement his place in the starting XI because of injuries to the regulars. He has made a total of 174 appearances for the La Liga outfit, scoring 46 goals and providing 43 assists.
Apart from incredible pace and intelligence, the attacking midfielder c*m winger possesses goal scoring abilities, which have made him a favourite in this transfer window.
While he is currently a Tottenham Hotspur target, it is apparent he has been lined up as a possible replacement for Modric. Should the Blues convince the Spurs to part ways with the Croatian international, Mata would make a more than sufficient replacement
for Modric in the Tottenham Hotspur midfield. It is only then that the Spurs will step up their efforts to secure the signature of Mata, with Arsenal currently in the lead to sign the Spaniard.
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