Sky Sports sources understand Chelsea will make an improved bid for want-away Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric later on Monday.
The Croatia international is at the centre of a transfer saga which is beginning to turn ugly, as claims and counter-claims are exchanged with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
Chelsea failed in a £22million approach for Modric earlier in the summer, but last season's Premier League runners-up, now under the management of Andre Villas-Boas, are ready to increase their offer.
The previous approach from Chelsea is believed to have determined the 25-year-old's thought process and on Monday morning it was revealed that he was prepared to request a transfer.
Levy last week told a disenchanted Modric, a £16.6million signing from Dynamo Zagreb in 2008, that he will not be allowed to leave no matter what the size of the offer or the club making the approach.
Criteria
Modric has claimed this reneges on a gentleman's agreement he struck with Levy in May 2010, when he signed a six-year contract extension with Tottenham.
It is contested by Modric that Spurs would listen to his thoughts if a perceivably bigger club showed an interest and made an appropriate offer.
Chelsea, who, unlike Tottenham, will play in the UEFA Champions League in the forthcoming season, appear to meet this criteria in Modric's opinion.
Spurs are of a different mind, but the impending increased offer from their London rivals will tempt the resolve of Levy, who is likely to want at least £30m.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted Modric has seemed distracted in pre-season training and reports have suggested that Lyon's £9m Bosnian, Miralem Pjanic, is being considered as a replacement.
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