Manchester United set to tie up deal for Croatian playmaker
Published:After handing in a transfer request as long as a year ago, Luka Modric finally looks set to leave Tottenham, with Manchester United primed to secure the Croatian’s signature.
Modric has been the subject of an initial £25million bid, which could rise up to £30million based on appearances and United’s success during his time at the club.
He is set for a significant wage hike, after more than tripling his £40,000 per week Spurs salary by landing a £125,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford.
The Croatian playmaker is currently away on international duty at Poland and Ukraine, but has negotiated with the Red Devils during his trip, and will seal his switch to the North-West upon his return to England.
Chelsea, long-time admirers of the 26-year-old, will be disappointed by the news, which means their year-long pursuit of the midfielder has been in vain.
Indeed, the Blues’ interest in the player has perhaps enhanced his value, though Sir Alex Ferguson was willing to stump up a significant fee to land a long-term successor to Paul Scholes.
Ferguson maintains hope of signing Everton’s Leighton Baines and Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote, but is reluctant to part with the £20million fees demanded by each club for their prize assets.
Modric is set to become the second player to sign for United this summer meanwhile, as his addition along with Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa appears certain to add dynamism to the Red Devils’ midfield.
His signing represents the clearest indication yet that Ferguson is willing to pay up in an attempt to claim domestic dominance back from local rivals Manchester City, and overhaul the Premier League champions in the coming season.
This type of challenge is one which appeals to Modric, whilst the lure of Champions League football has proved too great to ignore for the Croatian, who is primed to sign a four-year contract at Old Trafford.
