Croatia's head coach is disappointed Andre Villas-Boas is not picking Luka Modric, but expects the unsettled playmaker to complete his move from <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL0VuZ2xpc2ggUHJlbWllciBMZWFndWUgZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvVG90dGVuaGFtIEhvdHNwdXI=" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL0VuZ2xpc2ggUHJlbWllciBMZWFndWUgZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvVG90dGVuaGFtIEhvdHNwdXI=">Tottenham Hotspur</a> to <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1NwYW5pc2ggZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvUmVhbCBNYWRyaWQ=" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1NwYW5pc2ggZm9vdGJhbGwgdGVhbXMvUmVhbCBNYWRyaWQ=">Real Madrid</a> soon. Modric has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, but as of yet no club have reached the £40 million (Dh230.7m) asking price Spurs are demanding for his signature. Modric refused to travel to the United States for Tottenham's tour and has not been picked for any of the club's other pre-season games since. That has not gone down well with Igor Stimac, the Croatia head coach who plans to give the 26 year old his first game of the summer today when Croatia face Switzerland in a friendly in Split. "I don't like the situation that he is in at all, he has not played any matches at all this summer," Stimac was quoted as saying on AS.com. The former West Ham United defender said he is confident the player will leave White Hart before the end of the month, however, adding: "He will end up signing for Madrid before the market shuts." Tottenham already appear to be planning for life without Modric. The Londoners signed Gylfi Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim earlier this summer, and they have launched a bid to sign the <a href="http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/tottenham-hotspur-table-a-bid-for-yann-mvila">hard-working Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila</a>. Although the capture of M'Vila would undoubtedly improve the strength of the Spurs squad, the main concern for Villas-Boas is in the striker department. Jermain Defoe and the rookie Harry Kane are the only strikers on Tottenham's books as efforts to sign Emmanuel Adebayor and Leandro Damiao have so far failed. Spurs have also made an offer for Gaston Ramirez, according to the Bologna forward's agent. "The only solid offer is the one from Tottenham, who offered €16 million [Dh72.5m]" Oscar Betancourt told Calciomercato. "But the deal didn't go through because Spurs offered too low a wage to the player and if the wage difference is minimal he would stay at Bologna. "Tottenham could raise their offer if they sell Modric and in that case the deal could be done, otherwise Ramirez will stay another year at Bologna. We also talked with Liverpool but nothing more. "Inter Milan are interested in the player, but cannot afford to offer the same cash as the teams in the Premier League." sports@thenational.ae Follow us
