Will Manchester United go back in for the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder?
Manchester United have been quiet on Luka Modric over the last month, but yesterday there were two developments which may turn them back towards the Croatian.
Let’s take a look at them…
1) Sky Sports have reported that Spanish giants Real Madrid will not offer over £27 million for Modric.
Previously figures of around £35 million had been touted for the wantaway Croatian, who turned up to training at the Spurs Lodge yesterday. That had seemed to rule out United, who valued him at under £30 million.
Now Modric has backed himself into a corner, distancing himself from the rest of the squad and being criticised by manager Andre Villas-Boas for his lack of professionalism.
Tottenham are determined to drive a hard bargain, but they may be left with a choice of (a) accepting a bid below their valuation, and (b) letting him rot in the reserves and hoping like last year to bring him back into the fold when the transfer window shuts.
If they are keen on selling, then Madrid are dictating his market price. The figure of £27 million is only £1 million more than what United are rumoured to have bid for Lucas Moura, and it is a figure they could afford and be more likely to pay.
2) Lucas Moura to United a no-go?
Sky Sports also reported last night that Manchester United’s bid for Lucas Moura is in fact off. Less than 24 hours after the Mirror claimed a deal had been sealed.
Sir Alex Ferguson has said they are interested, but United’s and Sao Paolo’s valuation differs. Moura is reported to have said last night via his agent that he will not be talking with United while in England on Olympic duty.
So it appears now that United’s efforts to bring in the Brazilian have hit a brick wall, and they would need to up their offer to over £30 million to tempt Sao Paolo into a sale.
With negotiations reported to be ongoing for over two weeks now and no resolution, it’s likely time for United to move on and turn their attention to other midfield targets.
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So the dual reasons of Modric’s market price being pushed down by his main current suitors, and attempts to sign Moura hitting the buffers could well see United re-ignite their interest in the player.
Madrid playing hardball doesn’t mean tough negotiator Daniel Levy, Spurs chairman, will suddenly cave and start accepting bids of under £30 million.
The fly in the ointment we have not mentioned so far is last night’s news that PSG are ready to re-visit their interest in the player. And they would have no qualms about the price. The Guardian report the French runners-up may be ready to bid £40 million.
The key element here is ‘may’ – there is no bid yet, and they were linked last month too with a £30 million plus bid only for nothing to materialise. But if United are interested they need to put an offer in as soon as possible and see if they can turn the player’s head in their direction.
An alternative to Modric, who still may be priced within United’s range is Moussa Dembele, who has just one year left on his Fulham contract. The Telegraph reported last night that Spurs themselves had enquired after the Belgian.
Right now, United’s midfielder chase is in state of flux and they need to move forward to securing one of their targets as time will soon run out on them.
Will United go back for Modric? Should they?
image: © apasciuto
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