Blue is the colour for Modric
Posted Sunday, June 19, 2011 by The Sun
TIME TO MOVE ON ... midfielder Luka Modric wants to complete a switch to Stamford Bridge
LUKA MODRIC has stunned Tottenham by declaring: I want to join Chelsea.
Spurs are determined to hang on to the Croatian playmaker despite firm interest from both the Blues and Premier League champions Manchester United.
But Modric has made it clear he will ask club chairman Daniel Levy to sanction a move to Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old midfielder said: "If somebody comes to the club and the offer is good for me and acceptable to them, then I want to leave.
"Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.
"I want to stay in London as I am very happy here and so are my family."
Modric was in stunning form last season as Spurs made their debut in the Champions League.
It appeared United were in the driving seat to sign him with Alex Ferguson keen to add some creativity to his midfield.
But Chelsea stole a march on Fergie by making an official £22million bid and Modric has paved the way for Roman Abramovich to raise the stakes after the initial offer was rejected.
He added: "I want to leave Tottenham as friends. I have enjoyed my time there but now it is right for me to look at another club.
"I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer.
"I won't ask for a transfer, no. That would be disrespectful. I hope they can reach an agreement that is satisfactory for everyone.
"I don't want to have an argument with Tottenham. The supporters have been very good to me and I have enjoyed my time playing for the club.
"But it is for football that players leave clubs and move. It has happened to Tottenham before.
"It is normal for a player to dream about playing for a bigger club."
Despite Modric's desire to quit White Hart Lane, Levy maintains none of Tottenham's stars will be sold.
He said: "I wish to make it absolutely clear, as I have said previously, that none of our key players will be sold this summer.
"We are building a team for the future to consistently play at the highest level and retaining quality players is crucial to that.
"In respect of Modric, we are not prepared to sell, at any price, to Chelsea or any other club.
"We made our stance on this issue abundantly clear in writing to Chelsea. They chose to ignore it and then subsequently made the offer public.
"For the avoidance of any doubt, let me reiterate that we shall not enter into any negotiations with any club regarding Modric.
"We now consider this matter closed."
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