Harry Redknapp claims Tottenham rejected a £40 million bid from Chelsea for Croatia midfielder Luka Modric 24 hours before the close of the transfer window.
Modric had been desperate to make the short move across London to Stamford Bridge since Chelsea first made an approach for the playmaker during the close-season, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy rebuffed every offer from the Blues, including a blockbuster bid on Tuesday.
With the transfer window closing at 2200GMT on Wednesday, Chelsea -- who had previously offered up to £27m -- significantly increased the offer according to Redknapp, but it was still not enough to prise Modric away from White Hart Lane.
"The chairman stood firm over Luka," Redknapp told Sky Sports News. "I think £40m was apparently offered yesterday. Whether that is true or not, it is what I heard.
"It is a big offer to turn down, that's for sure. I am delighted the little man is still here and hopefully he will have a great season for us."
There must be some doubt whether Modric will be able to give his best for Spurs following the acrimonious meeting he had with Levy earlier this month that led the Croatian to accuse his employer of reneging on an agreement to let him leave if a big club made an offer.
Modric asked Redknapp to leave him out of Sunday's 5-1 defeat against Manchester City, but he eventually played for 65 minutes and the Spurs boss expects him to focus on the north Londoners now.
"Yeah, for sure," Redknapp said. "He has got two international games this week. There's good competition.
"Sandro is getting fit, Scott Parker has arrived, Tom Huddlestone. We've got good players in the middle of the park so we're looking forward to it now."
Redknapp also revealed that Spurs had failed in their attempt to sign Bolton defender Gary Cahill.
"We've been trying to sign Gary Cahill, trying hard all day but Daniel Levy couldn't quite get it over the line," he said.
Redknapp's squad could be trimmed before the deadline, however, as he said England striker Peter Crouch is in talks with Stoke, while Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas are close to joining Aston Villa.
"Peter Crouch is up at Stoke talking to them. Alan Hutton, it seems like he's at Aston Villa. Jermaine Jenas is at Villa as well," he said.
Source: AFP
