Tottenham Hotspur captain, defender Michael Dawson insists that Modric’s declaration of wanting to join Chelsea has not created any rift in the team.
Modric is reported to handed a transfer request to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to force through what he sees as a “dream” move to Chelsea. The Croatian has already infuriated the club’s fans by publicly talking up his desire to leave for one of the club’s closest rivals.
But Dawson, who recently issued a statement dismissing all reports of him leaving the club, said:
“We are all friends with Luka, we have got great team spirit amongst the players and we want to keep that together.”
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Dawson said
“This time of year there are always going to be rumours and Luka’s been linked with Chelsea. From a team’s point of view you want to keep your best players and the chairman has come out and said he is going to keep him so that is great for the football club.
“The chairman has come out and said no one is for sale so that’s great.”
Levy vowed at the end of last season that none of the club’s best players would be sold this summer and released a statement on the club’s website stating the same.
Modric trained with his team-mates on the first full day of their tour yesterday and is expected to train again this morning.
Assistant manager Kevin Bond is in charge of the squad until Redknapp arrives in Johannesburg on Sunday and he praised Modric for his professionalism.
“Luka has been as good as gold. He is no different now to how he has been all of the time. He is working hard in training and he is very much part of the group. I see no difference in Luka Modric.”