Source: Daily_Mail
Harry Redknapp dismisses Luka Modric's transfer request
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has dismissed wantaway midfielder Luka Modric's transfer request, claiming there is nothing the Croatian can do to change the club's mind.[LNB]Sportsmail exclusively revealed that Modric made formal his desire to leave the club and join Chelsea before they jetted out on their pre-season tour of South Africa. [LNB]But Spurs remain firm in their desire to keep the playmaker, 25, and Redknapp dismissed any talk that the formal transfer request changes anything. [LNB] Jetting in: Modric arrives in South Africa with his Spurs team-mates[LNB] [LNB] The squad landed in South Africa on Thursday morning without Redknapp who has remained in England due to personal reasons. [LNB]The Spurs boss said: 'We know Luka wants to leave. Writing it down on a piece of paper doesn't make much difference to our stance.[LNB]'He's a great player and we don't want to lose him.'[LNB]Modric insists Levy promised to let him move if the club received the kind of offer that Chelsea have tabled. However, two bids from Stamford Bridge have been rejected initially for ?22million and this week for ?27m with Tottenham insisting the player would not be sold at any price. [LNB] No exit: Modric has made a formal request to leave the club[LNB] [LNB] It would come as no surprise if Levy also rejected Modric's transfer request, but animproved bid in excess of ?30m, which is now expected, could be harder to turn down for a player so desperate to leave. [LNB]Meanwhile Redknapphopes the club's pre-season tour will help shift the focus away from the Croatian's stand-off with the club over a move to Stamford Bridge. [LNB]TheSpurs boss said: 'Hopefully he will go away and get a bit of football now and just get on with it. We hope that he will come back and get ready for the new season.'[LNB] Transfer request: Luka Modric (second right) submitted written notice to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy[LNB] [LNB]Tottenham captain Michael Dawson has backed Levy's tough stance and is hopeful that the furore surrounding Modric will not affect the club's pre-season tour.[LNB]'This time of year there are always going to be rumours and Luka's been linked with Chelsea,' Dawson said.[LNB]'From a team's point of view you want to keep your best players and the chairman has come out and said he is going to keep him so that is great for the football club. [LNB]'We are all friends with Luka, we have got great team spirit amongst the players and we want to keep that together.[LNB]'The chairman has come out and said no one is for sale so that's great.[LNB]'All we can do is to concentrate on the job ahead and aim at getting trophies this season.'[LNB] CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE FANTASY FOOTBALL GAMEModric hands in transfer request to Spurs chairman Levy in bid to force Chelsea move Villa offer ?7m for Parker to rival Chelsea's shock loan swoop for West Ham starAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion
