Source: Team_Talk
AVB ponders Modric alternatives
Andre Villas-Boas has hinted that Chelsea will not be held to ransom over Luka Modric as he continued to explore alternative targets.[LNB] Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp on Wednesday admitted it might be in his side's interests to sell the Croatia playmaker and spend the fee on strengthening their squad.[LNB]Chelsea have this summer seen bids of £22million and £27million rejected for the 25-year-old, who Spurs chairman Daniel Levy continues to maintain is not available at any price.[LNB]That resolve would undoubtedly be tested by a mega-money offer but Blues boss Villas-Boas has suggested there was a limit to what his club were prepared to spend.[LNB]Chelsea have been linked with a £30million bid before the transfer window closes and Villas-Boas said: "We have approached Tottenham before regarding the player.[LNB]"I don't know if it's viable or not and to what extent we can go regarding his price because we are speaking about a high amount and nothing else basically. End of story.[LNB]"Whatever comes from Harry's mind is his own opinion about the situation.[LNB]"I just have to study the rest of the market and hopefully find a solution for my team."[LNB]Villas-Boas last week revealed he was attempting to sign two midfielders before the August 31 deadline.[LNB]As well as Modric, he has been linked with Valencia's Juan Mata, Liverpool's Raul Meireles, Porto's Joao Moutinho and the latter's wing-back team-mate Alvaro Pereira.[LNB]"That's a lot!" Villas-Boas quipped.[LNB]"Why don't we dwell on the names that already have been spoken about and never came?[LNB]"Neymar, (Samir) Nasri - how many names have been linked with Chelsea in the past and they didn't come?[LNB]"In our operations, in whatever we do or not in the market, we try to keep it as silent as possible."[LNB]He added: "We have been studying all kinds of options."[LNB]An injury to Michael Essien is a factor behind Chelsea's pursuit of a pair of midfielders.[LNB]Essien was last month ruled out until January after undergoing knee surgery, although Villas-Boas today revealed he was hopeful the Ghana star would be back sooner.[LNB]The new Chelsea boss suffered another injury blow on Wednesday when a training-ground accident saw goalkeeper Petr Cech ruled out for up to four weeks with medial ligament damage.[LNB]"It was the end of training, normal training incident," said Villas-Boas.[LNB]"He fell awkwardly with his weight on top of him and he stretched a little bit the medial ligament.[LNB]"We expected much worse when we saw the incident."[LNB]Villas-Boas must now decide whether to start Hilario or Ross Turnbull in Saturday's Premier League game against West Brom.[LNB]"Tomorrow, I think we'll make a full decision," he said.[LNB]Chelsea will be boosted by the return to full fitness of Branislav Ivanovic, who was an unused substitute in Sunday's opening-day draw at Stoke, but David Luiz (thigh) remains out until next week and Daniel Sturridge is still suspended.[LNB]New signing Oriol Romeu trained with his team-mates for the first time today after Spain's Under-20 World Cup exit but he will not be considered for selection until the Norwich game a week on Saturday.[LNB]Fellow new boy Romelu Lukaku, however, is finally available after completing his protracted move from Anderlecht today.[LNB]The 18-year-old Belgium sensation's arrival swells Chelsea's phalanx of strikers to seven and it is doubtful the club can keep them all happy.[LNB]There were reports this week that Nicolas Anelka wanted out after failing to start at Stoke, but Villas-Boas said today: "It's not true."[LNB]Yet, there is no sign of the Frenchman being offered a new contract to replace the one that expires next summer - unlike Didier Drogba, who is still in negotiations over an extension.[LNB]Asked what would happen if the parties failed to reach an agreement, Villas-Boas said: "We will [reach an agreement].[LNB]"He is one of the most important players and representative players of the club.[LNB]"And his willingness to continue is 100%. It will be because of that that we will reach an agreement."
