Chelsea to improve offer for Liverpool star as Modric peters out

With just 48 hours left in the summer transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur fans are waiting with bated breath to see if midfielder Luka Modric moves to Chelsea.

On the basis of activity today, it seems the Spurs faithful have nothing to worry about as the Chelsea board have turned their attentions to Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles.

Liverpool have reportedly rejected a bid of £8m plus Yossi Benayoun for the out of favour midfielder, and having signed the Portuguese international for just under £11m this time last year, the Reds would like to recoup more of that fee.

Benayoun moved from Liverpool to Chelsea last summer and while he was active in Andre Villas-Boas’ pre-season thoughts, it seems the Israeli international is being used as a makeweight in any deals Chelsea are prepared to do.

Benayoun confirmed via Twitter that he is currently negotiating terms with several clubs, one of whom is believed to be Arsenal, and it seems his Chelsea career will end by Wednesday.

Whether he returns to Liverpool as part of a deal for Meireles remains to be seen but the Portuguese star is a much cheaper alternative to Spurs’ Modric and we’re likely to see an improved offer from Chelsea for Meireles.

Villas-Boas has brought in five new signings this summer but four of them are under 20 and only Juan Mata is the only one likely to be handed a starting spot.

Chelsea’s new manager is keen to freshen up the Chelsea squad and he has 48 hours in which to do so.