http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11668_7160642,00.html Wantaway Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric's hopes of a move to Chelsea this season appear to be over after Andre Villas-Boas announced a renewed January bid is unlikely. Croatia international Modric was keen to move to Stamford Bridge and was at the centre of a tug of war throughout the summer, as Chelsea failed in a number of bids. Tottenham always maintained the stance they did not want to sell and chairman Daniel Levy was under no immediate pressure due to the insurance of the player's long-term contract. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp claimed Chelsea failed with a top offer of £40million for Modric shortly before transfer deadline day. "No I don't think so. The market is closed and I won't speculate what happens in January." And, after the unsuccessful summer pursuit, Villas-Boas is not expecting to return with an approach to Tottenham in the winter. Questioned on the subject ahead of Saturday's trip to Sunderland, the Chelsea boss said: "No I don't think so. The market is closed and I won't speculate what happens in January." He also revealed a move for Porto defender Alvaro Pereira failed to materialise because Chelsea could not agree fee. Villas-Boas said: "We were very far from meeting Porto's demands for Alvaro. I am happy with Ashley Cole and Ryan Bertrand." Meanwhile, Didier Drogba is facing a race against time to be fit for Chelsea's Premier League game at Manchester United, as he continues his recovery from a sickening head injury. Villas-Boas revealed the striker would miss Saturday's trip to Sunderland and Tuesday's UEFA Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen. Drogba is still suffering from the concussion he sustained in the 3-1 victory over Norwich 11 days ago and Villas-Boas claimed the club would 'push it to the limit' to ensure he was available for the trip to Old Trafford on 18th September. "He has to be authorised medically to make his full return to training," Villas-Boas said. "He has been doing light sessions, of course, with our physios. Limit "Let's push it to the limit to try for him to be available for Man United. I wouldn't say he would be available for Leverkusen." Villas-Boas added: "The first days were, of course, tremendous pain, and he had his family supporting him. "He had complete support from the medical staff, who were with him 24-seven. And we've been getting this support to him. "We just have to make sure that he's fully recovered before he comes back to training because that's the requirement you have to do neurologically." There was otherwise good news on the injury front for Villas-Boas, who confirmed goalkeeper Petr Cech is available against Sunderland after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from his knee injury. Defender David Luiz is also back after missing the start of the season with a thigh problem.
It is unfortunate that none of the gutter press rags is going to resist prefacing any mention of Modric's name with the phrase "want-away." Sheep, all of them.
I wouldn't call them sheep - more like enablers. They're the ones who print the "Player X to Club Y" stories on a regular basis, which allows Club Y to continue bullying their parent club with the knowledge Player X has had their head turned by the constant harassment by the press. Unless there's a word for people who assist in somebody comitting non-consentual sex, anyway...
To be fair to Villas Boas, I think it was the Russian who started this (very boring) ball rolling. As far as Modric is concerned, I think Chelski have poisoned the well; They are probably the last club Levy will want to deal with.
It always makes me wonder though why a team would consider a bid for a player 4 months in advance. We have been linked with Cahill in January. How do we know if we will need him? How do Chelsea know if they will need Modric? They might be top of the table 10 points clear or mid table 15 points behind so would he then want to go there? It all seems much too speculative for me.
As far as I can see, all Villas Boas has said is, "It is impossible to say what will happen in January" Which, reading between the lines, means: "I'm just the manager, I haven't got a ****ing clue what's liable to happen, Emperor Roman may decide to have another go in Jan - he might not"
The latest "updates" is Villas-Boas saying he called off the transfer. So it had nothing to do with Daniel Levy telling him tomar o seu lance irrisório de volta para Abramovich e vá se foder for the umpteenth time then?
