Redknapp urges top brass to tie Modric to White Hart Lane

Harry Redknapp claims the top brass at White Hart Lane need to sit down with Luca Modric and get the Croatian playmaker tied down to a long-term deal.

The Tottenham boss has acted quickly to rebuff reports linking his midfielder with a move to Manchester United, a couple of years after the gifted Modric was reported to have been the subject of interest from the top clubs across Europe, including admiring glances from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Redknapp, who has guided his White Hart Lane outfit to the top of the Premier League with three victories in as many games, claims Modric would be “worth every penny” if the club’s chairman would dangle a new contract infront of him.

“If I was the chairman I would certainly be looking to tie him up as soon as we can because he is an amazing footballer,” said Redknapp.

Keeping top players at White Hart Lane has to be a priority for Redknapp, who is looking to build on the progress he has made since joining Tottenham towards the beginning of last season.

The emergence of new confidence and the retention of Modric, along with the goalscoring exploits of Jermaine Defoe, could see growing numbers of people putting a football bet on Spurs over-achieving this season.

Modric himself has said he wants to stay at White Hart Lane for the foreseeable future, telling Croatian publication Sportske Novosti he “feels great” at Tottenham and has “given no thought to moving to a different club”.

One player looking to be heading to the White Hart Lane exit door is Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, who is reported to be angry at the lack of first-team opportunities and angling for a move away from the capital.

The Russian is currently behind Defoe, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch in Redknapp’s thinking, having managed only one minute of first team action so far this season.