Originally Posted by The Times

Luka Modric’s protracted departure from Tottenham Hotspur has taken an acrimonious turn with the midfield player’s failure to take part in training on Friday expected to cost him an £80,000 fine, having already provoked a stern rebuke from André Villas-Boas.

The Croatia midfield player has set his heart on a move to Real Madrid but with the clubs yet to agree a fee, the 26-year-old appears to have tried to force the issue by skipping training.

Reports yesterday suggested that Modric refused to travel to the United States for Tottenham’s pre-season tour and although those claims were unconfirmed, Villas-Boas, the Tottenham head coach, appeared to allude to the situation yesterday when he criticised the player in the Spanish media. “I think Modric is wrong,” Villas-Boas said. “This will go against him. He has worsened the situation with what he’s doing and now the chairman [Daniel Levy] is very angry.”

Tottenham are believed to be seeking a fee of £40 million for Modric in the knowledge that Paris Saint-Germain, the big-spending French club, are also keen to sign him. Real believe that valuation is excessive and have so far refused to increase their offer of £27 million plus future additional payments.

Originally Posted by The Times

Michael Laudrup has conceded that he will be powerless to prevent Joe Allen from leaving Swansea City in the event of the Wales midfield player setting his heart on a move to Liverpool. The Swansea manager is waiting for Allen to inform him where he feels his future lies amid strong interest from Liverpool, who are willing to pay in the region of £10 million.

Swansea are seeking a £15 million fee for Allen, but Laudrup’s admission that the 22-year-old will effectively decide his own fate has increased the likelihood of the move taking place. “You can’t say yes or no without having spoken to the player,” Laudrup said. “If he says, ‘I want to stay, I’m so happy here’, then he stays.

“But if we get a very big offer and the player wants to leave, what is there to keep him here? So the most important thing is always the player.”

Originally Posted by The Times

Di Matteo said that Financial Fair Play rules are already influencing the club’s transfer decisions, yet Eden Hazard and Marko Marin have joined and when Oscar’s arrival from Internacional is confirmed, summer spending will threaten the £70 million mark. All on tricky and slight attacking midfielders, as if Di Matteo wants to emulate the buzzing interplay of Spain and Barcelona. Who wouldn’t?

Originally Posted by Ludas

Lumma what do you mean with Kompany renews contract for £34m? Surely that can't be his earnings for one year?

Originally Posted by The Times

The race to sign Andy Carroll intensified last night when West Ham United offered a club-record transfer fee for the out-of-favour Liverpool forward.

West Ham will pay £2 million to loan Carroll for the season, meet his £80,000-per-week wages and will guarantee a permanent deal for a further £16 million, if the club avoid relegation.

Carroll is understood to prefer a return to Newcastle United, who have offered to take him on loan for the season with the option of a £15 million deal next summer. Liverpool immediately rebuffed that proposal and were perplexed by Newcastle’s request for them to continue paying a significant portion of the England striker’s £80,000-a-week wages.

Alan Pardew, the Newcastle manager, had attempted to put pressure on Liverpool by claiming they would have to accept making a significant loss on Carroll but West Ham’s offer has put the ball back in Newcastle’s court.

West Ham remain keen on resigning James Collins but the Aston Villa defender’s £45,000-a-week wages could be problematic.

Originally Posted by The Times

Real Madrid have said they will not pay more than £29 million for Luka Modric, about £10 million short of Tottenham Hotspur’s valuation of the Croatia midfielder.

Niko Kranjcar, Modric’s compatriot and former Tottenham team-mate, has criticised Spurs for failing to allow the midfielder to leave. “The offer from Real Madrid happens once in his career,” Kranjcar said. “It is something sublime. I know that [Daniel Levy, the chairman] talking face-to-face promised to let him go, and now he condemns. Levy has done everything to protect the club’s interest, but he breaks his promises and I would also strike if I were in Modric’s place.”

Lyons have set Tottenham a deadline of Sunday to meet their £16 million asking price for Hugo Lloris or the French club claim they will call off the proposed deal for the goalkeeper.