Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists Luka Modric deserves a pay rise despite his public plea to leave the club this summer.
Chelsea lodged at least three bids for the player in the close season - the last one a whopping £40million offer - but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy stood firm and refused to sell the star.
Redknapp said: "If he is worth £40million then life tells you that you have to be paid accordingly doesn't it?"
Modric himself angered many Spurs fans by giving two interviews declaring that he wanted to leave Tottenham and complete a "dream" move to Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old then angered Levy by attacking the chairman in an interview with a Croatian newspaper in which he accused the 49-year-old of reneging on an agreement that would allow him to leave if a big club came in for him this summer.
Modric then declined to play the club's game at Manchester United and Redknapp claimed the playmaker was being advised to do everything he could to engineer a move to Chelsea.
With the transfer window closed, Modric was forced to stay at Tottenham and he has thrived since, playing well at Wolves before scoring a blistering strike in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Liverpool.
Despite his actions against the club, Redknapp thinks Modric's worth to the team warrants a rise on his current pay packet - which is reported to be between £40,000 and £50,000 a week.
Redknapp said: "You can't say he is worth £40million and want to pay him the wages of someone who is worth £5million. That doesn't ring true does it? You have to look after the boy and I'm sure we will do that and his future is hopefully here.
"We have to convince him that his future is here and make it right for the boy, that's only fair as well, and I'm sure the chairman will be fair and make sure he does that."
Source: PA
