Shocking news has come from Luka Modric today as the Mail has quoted the Tottenham Hotspur midfield as wanting to leave the club for cross-town rivals Chelsea FC. Modric, who had been the subject of a bid (by Chelsea) described as derisory by the Spurs board, apparently thinks that it's time to drop the curtain on his Tottenham career and move to a bigger club - and one in London. Chelsea, obviously, fit that bill.
I want to leave Tottenham as friends. I have enjoyed my time there, but now it is right for me to look at another club. I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that, if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer.
Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League. I want to stay in London. I am very happy here and so are my family. I like the city.
If true - and the Mail would be in deep trouble if it isn't - this is obviously huge news. Modric was one of the league's best midfielders last season in an area where Chelsea struggled, and acquiring him from Tottenham would seemingly represent a major coup for the still-managerless Blues. It's unclear whether Chelsea will increase their bid for Modric, but the die has been cast. one way or another, it sounds as though the Croatian is on his way our of White Hart Lane.