Chelsea's £30M wad for Luka Modric

Posted Thursday, July 28, 2011 by Dailystar.co.uk

Chelsea's £30M wad for Luka Modric
Above: Chelsea are set to make a final £30m offer for Luka Modric and will tell Tottenham: Take it or leave

Chelsea are set to make a final £30m offer for Luka Modric and will tell Tottenham: Take it or leave it.

Chelsea are refusing to give up their chase for the Croatian play-maker, despite Spurs’ insistence Luka Modric is not for sale.

Chelsea have already bid £22m and £27m for the 25-year-old, who has made it clear he wants to leave White Hart Lane.

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Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is believed to be holding out for £35m. New Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is a big fan of Modric and owner Roman Abramovich is also keen, believing he could provide the chances for £50m flop Fernando Torres.

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard last night admitted he will quit football the day he finds he can no longer make his trademark bursts into the penalty area.

The England midfielder missed four months of last season because of groin and hernia problems. He was in an unfamiliar, deep-lying role in yesterday’s 4-0 win over Hong Kong side Kitchee in the Barclays Asia Trophy.

And it could be a sign of things to come, according to Villas-Boas. Lampard, 33, said: “If I didn’t feel I was able to get into the area, I wouldn’t want to hang around too long. I love getting into the box, getting up and down the pitch. I know I can do it now and hopefully I can for a few more years.

“But I will know when that day will come. I’ll probably be sold before then. “I don’t mind where I play. I have actually played the deep role for England fairly regularly. I do like to get forward, but this won’t be a role that will stop me getting into the box.”

Villas-Boas said: “Frank is one of the best players in the world. He is more than happy and has the flexibility to play in a holding or forward position.

“He’s comfortable with it. It’s nothing new for Frank. Maybe it prevents him from arriving in the box too early – but maybe he can arrive at the precise time.”

Chelsea dominated this latest leg of their Asian tour. Lampard gave them the lead with a 36th-minute penalty after Yossi Benayoun was brought down.

Torres was left on the bench as Didier Drogba started a game on tour for the first time. After an own-goal from Kitchee defender Ubay Luzardo Santana, Drogba netted the third and substitute Daniel Sturridge added the fourth.

Chelsea face Aston Villa in Saturday’s final. The Blues have complained to the Malaysian FA after Israeli Benayoun suffered racist abuse from fans in their 1-0 win over a Malaysian XI in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday.

A spokesman said: “We believe Yossi was subjected to anti-Semitic abuse by a number of supporters.