Croatia head coach expects Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric to complete Real Madrid switch

Luka Modric: The diminutive midfielder once again showed what a fantastic player he is, exhibiting his full range of passing with unnerving accuracy. Created Croatia's best chance of the game with sublime ball from the outside of his right foot. (Getty Images)

Croatia's head coach is disappointed Andre Villas-Boas is not picking Luka Modric, but expects the unsettled playmaker to complete his move from Tottenham to Real Madrid soon.

Modric has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, but as of yet no club have reached the £40million asking price Spurs are demanding for his signature.

Modric refused to travel to the United States for Spurs' tour and has not been picked for any of the club's other pre-season games since.

That has not gone down well with national head coach Igor Stimac, who plans to give the 26-year-old his first game of the summer tomorrow when Croatia face Switzerland 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 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 it is understood they have launched a bid to sign hard-working Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila.

Although the capture of M'Vila would undoubtedly improve the strength of the Spurs squad, Villas-Boas' main concern is in the striker department.

Jermain Defoe and 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 [£12.6m]," 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 can not afford to offer cash as the teams in the Premier League."

Lyon, meanwhile, have confirmed that they rejected an offer from Tottenham for their 25-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Lloris this summer.

Spurs' current number one, Brad Friedel, turned 41 in May and France stopper Lloris would provide Villas-Boas with a much younger alternative.

"Hugo wants to play in one of the best clubs in Europe," Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told French radio station RMC.

"This year there was an approach from Tottenham that was quickly rejected.

"If he absolutely wants to leave, we will look at the proposals but they must be consistent with what we want. If not, he will stay."

PA

Related article from London's Evening Standard...

Luka Modric deal close but Andre Villas-Boas stance riles Stimac