Harry Redknapp has reiterated Tottenham's desire to keep Luka Modric out of the clutches of Chelsea.
Spurs boss looking forward to seeing midfielder on tour
Harry Redknapp has reiterated Tottenham's desire to keep Luka Modric out of the clutches of Chelsea.
The Blues have upped their offer for the Croatia international by £5million to £27million, but Tottenham insist they are not interested in selling.
Modric is set to fly out to South Africa on Wednesday with the rest of the first-team squad for their pre-season tour.
And despite Chelsea's improved offer, when asked if this latest bid had caused Tottenham to change their stance, Redknapp was emphatic.
"No, only the same response, we don't want to sell him," he told
Sky Sports News.
Offer
"Obviously I still think £27million is a poor offer for a player of that ability. In my opinion it would not be anywhere near what I would think he was valued at, if he was for sale - but he's not for sale.
"There is nowhere to go with it really, the chairman has made a stance and he's not for sale - and that's it."
There are some suggestions that Chelsea could yet come back with a further improved bid that would break the £30million barrier.
Yet, for Redknapp, any such bid would still be well below his valuation of a player that sparkled throughout last season as Spurs impressed in the UEFA Champions League.
"What I honestly value him at would be way more in excess of that, if you asked me honestly what I thought he was worth," added the Spurs boss.
"Even if they offered that, the chairman said he is not for sale. It's a difficult situation and he's such a great boy, he's not a troublemaker and he's come in and trained great today and that's how he is.
Key
"He will just get on with his job because that's how he is but, we really don't want to lose him because he is a key player for us."
Modric still has the option of handing in a transfer request but Redknapp does not feel that would help the Croatian's cause and fully expects him to travel to South Africa with the rest of the squad on Wednesday.
"I really don't think that would have any effect on the situation," continued the Tottenham boss on the possibility of the player handing in a transfer request.
"Yes he's coming with us tomorrow, as I said before he's the last lad in the world that would ever cause a problem. You couldn't meet a nicer boy.
"As I've said before, there are players who would be a real problem and I've come across some in my years of management, who, if they wanted to go somewhere, would kick up and make sure they got their move."
