Luka Modric has emerged as Real Madrid’s No1 transfer target this summer as Jose Mourinho looks to add the “one or two” players he believes can turn his Spanish champions into European kings.
Mourinho has made a new creative midfielder a priority according to Marca, as the Portuguese prepares to let Turkish playmaker Nuri Sahin leave for Internazionale.
The 24-year-old, Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2011, only joined Madrid last summer after helping Borussia Dortmund to the German title, but he has failed to make an impact at the Bernabeu and now looks to be on his way.
As a result Mourinho has reportedly turned his attntions to Modric, whose future with Tottenham is likely to again come into sharp focus after Euro 2012.
The 26-year-old made no secret of his desire to quit Spurs last year and handed in a transfer request in a bid to force through a move to long-time suitors Chelsea.
Spurs Daniel Levy refused to sell, however, and Modric remained at White Hart Lane, helping the club to a fourth place finish in the Premier League this season.
However, the joy of finishing in the Champions League places has been tempered by Chelsea’s victory over Bayern Munich last night, meaning that they, and not Spurs, ill take their place in Europe’s premier club competition last season.
Gareth Bale has already intimated that he would consider his future this summer if the club failed to book a spot in the Champions League, while Modric is set to discuss his future after Croatia’s Euro 2012 campaign.
Whether Modric would be willing to move to Spain remains to be seen given that he admitted last summer that he would be loathe to leave London given how much he and his family enjoy life in the city.
Manchester United have also been linked with the former Dinamo Zagreb star, who joined Spurs in £16.5million move in 2008, although whether they would be willing to spash out £30million plus on his signature is unlikely.
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