Wage war! Chelsea ready to nearly treble Luka Modric's salary...and tempt Tottenham with Didier Drogba
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:52 PM on 14th June 2011
Chelsea are ready to up the ante in their pursuit of Tottenham's Luka Modric with the Blues prepared to offer the playmaker £130,000 a week – nearly triple his £50,000 salary at White Hart Lane.
Spurs have stressed their desire not to sell Modric, who was voted the clubs player–of-the-year last season, but Chelsea are reportedly ready to test their resolve by throwing in Didier Drogba as a makeweight to any deal.
The west London club ended last season without a trophy and are looking to add creativity to their squad, with the £30million-rated Croatian the top target along with a full-back and a winger, according to the Sun.
An insider said: 'Not having a manager yet won't slow anything down. 'There's a hitlist of players to sign and Modric is right at the top of it.'
The 25-year-old has three years to run on his current deal at White Hart Lane but has not ruled out a move away, stating his desire to continue playing in the Champions League after featuring prominently in the club's European run last season.
With Manchester United and Manchester City also interested, Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp this week claimed Spurs must resist bids for Modric if the club want to progress.
He said: 'For sure we can keep Luka (Modric), he's a special player and we have to keep Luka Modric. If we sell Luka we are just a selling club basically.
'Manchester United won't sell Wayne Rooney, Chelsea won't go and sell Lampard or Terry and you never hear people talk about them getting sold so why should we sell Luka Modric if we are trying to be a big club.'
Redknapp though has been a long-term admirer of Drogba and after a season where his strikers underperformed badly, would be keen to add the 33-year-old to his ranks.
The Ivorian outshone £50million Fernando Torres last season at Chelsea, but the Blues see Modric as the key to coaxing the best out of the Spaniard which could limit Drogba's first-team chances.
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2003427/Chelsea-treble-Luka-Modrics-Tottenham-wages-offer-Didier-Drogba.html#ixzz1PKJrsGvv
