In the dark over Modders? Until now, that is…

[Dorset]

Luka Modric on the move? We were told it would never happen. Daniel Levy, the self-styled strangler of a playmaker’s ambitions last year, had ruled out a transfer at any price. The then manager had rolled down a car window and said as much through the gap created and in as many cheeky-chappie words as he could muster for the cameras, for the umpteenth time, thereby confirming the truth [and nothing but the truth] surrounding the likelihood of a satisfaction-guaranteed for all parties scenario. Not even a cool £40m could, allegedly, break the resolve that hung around the Lane like a shroud of stoical intent - the player was going nowhere and there appeared to be no way out. Until now, that is.

And even up until the last few days we have been regaled by Media rumours and hacking coughed-up stories positioning the Croatian every which way but Chels-bound, no doubt due in no small measure to Levy’s stated pledge not to sell him to a Premiership team because that might, just might, jeopardise chances of future WHL success similar to…err, last season’s success. Logic suggested that such exclusivity would have crushed United’s supposed interest in an instant too, or it would have done had it not been for the Media’s desperation to ignore the fact that, potless or not, the Mancs are still a rival top four Premiership side and it wasn’t until they ruled themselves out that the fawning had to stop.

Funny how the press corps and a newly Salford-housed BBC seem determined to put Fergie in the buying frame for a player deemed to be available at well above his Glazer glass ceiling price range, especially when he’s placed there by a once-Berba and now twice shy outfit that surely learnt a salutary lesson on that deal alone. So, no, it’s not going to be Old Trafford and if exclusivity is to be believed Real Madrid have to be the sole bidders with any real credence or hope. Whether the Spaniards really need another influential midfielder of quality is, of course, another matter entirely and not one that the Media will overly concern themselves with should it mean they can avoid talking about Modric’s own wishes on the subject of upping sticks and making a break for it Until now, that is.

Modric wishes? In all honesty, I can’t see why they would have ever wavered from a strong desire to leave Spurs last term and wend his way down to the Bridge to join a team that has now Champions League winners status as well. Despite playing out of his skin for the majority of last season, poor old [yet still relatively young] Luka still found himself with little to shout about. Complicit (despite being under virtual house arrest) he may have been, but who can deny him his current pleas for clemency followed by release for good behaviour that often bordered on the brilliant during his period of confinement. Fat chance, cynics might say, as clearly there is no ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in existence at the moment (I wouldn’t think you make that mistake twice with Levy) and here we are left to ponder the prospect of a new ‘Arry-less regime sweeping clean, using the euphemistic ‘war chest’ to placate fans who blissfully thought their team couldn’t get much better than it was only a year ago. Until now, that is.

Now those fans know better. They’re aware that a Levy run ship is nothing if not a tightly run vessel and war chests will never be doubloon-laden, especially when you’ve a tendency to turn your nose up at a massive windfall before every new voyage begins. Okay, they may be Flat Earthers down at the Lane, but you don’t need a modern map to see that their next trip has to navigate a new course. With all the indications being that AVB’s going to be piped on board sometime soon it has to be different and Modders-free, thus solving the financial question in a single hit.

Quite frankly, it is their only viable solution and it has fanned the flames of this week’s rumours involving Danny Sturridge wanting regular first team football elsewhere and Tottenham suddenly waking up to the [so called] fact. I’m inclined to think that Meireles is more suitable makeweight material in this instance, AVB connection considered, but the whole shooting match presupposes our continued interest in Modric and, typically, we are giving nothing away in this regard. Indeed, there hasn’t been anything to suggest, by way of unequivocal statement or implication, that this guy is going anywhere, let alone heading in our direction. Until now, that is.

And it’s back to Redknapp and his latest epistle to the Sky Sportsonians for the evidence, although on this occasion you can be surer of content and cutting-edge sincerity than during his days of gainful employment at Spurs because, to mould a William Congreve quote for maximum effect, heaven hath no rage like a football manager’s love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a ’Arry scorned. According to his favoured Media mouthpiece…

“…despite his sacking earlier in June by Tottenham, Redknapp is fully aware of Modric's value to Tottenham, as he told Sky Sports News when asked if Modric had kicked his last ball for the club: "I don't know. I wouldn't be sure about that It would be (a huge loss). He is irreplaceable. But if they get massive money, they can go and get three or four players and improve the team in other areas."

Deliberately linked to a piece on the ‘great lad’ that is Gareth Bale, effort is also made to contrast a player who is staying with one that, by implication, isn’t. A player who is ’a top-class boy’ leaves you assuming the other one was once [this time last year when he stayed, presumably] but, again by implication, isn’t anymore, as he is getting the hell outta there, like a rat deserting the [insert appropriate adjective] ship.

And so, from his sage-like vantage point (by the side of some golf course near Sandbanks) the unemployed Redknapp is certainly wasting no time positioning Daniel Levy in the villain’s role over Modders, much in the same way as he did this time last year, when he regarded the player as mere war chest-filling fodder and led the lobbying for his sale. Yet for this reason alone you have to think that Redknapp’s pretty much convinced, maybe even knows for sure, that Luca is on his way and the Media ground is already being prepared for a follow-up piece where the crafty cockney professes his absolute astonishment over the [inevitable] sale, the eventual [reduced] price and his ultimate [who could it be?] destination.

[Mike Carefree]

....And mentioning Harry. I visited his house at Sandbanks while holidaying at Weymouth last year...Must say his dog has a wonderful nose for real estate

[Eight Times]

....And mentioning Harry. I visited his house at Sandbanks while holidaying at Weymouth last year...Must say his dog has a wonderful nose for real estate

It's only 15 minutes down the road from me, still a different world mind, where he lives, the jammy sod.

[Mod]

I got a bit worried when I saw the title!

Great post Dorset.