United in £50m bid for Modric as Spurs playmaker is Fergie's top target

By Derek Hunter
Last updated at 11:16 PM on 21st January 2012

Luka Modric, the brilliant Croatia midfielder who has masterminded Tottenham's emergence as title contenders, is now Manchester United's No 1 transfer target for the summer.
But it will take a £50million bid by United to prise away the 26-year-old, who has another chance to grab the limelight as third placed Spurs take on League leaders Manchester City on the Premier League's biggest day of the season so far.
Under his hat: Luka Modric will have a big decision to make in the summer
Under his hat: Luka Modric will have a big decision to make in the summer
United, who face Arsenal in Sunday's other clash of the titans, see Modric as their preferred long-term replacement for Paul Scholes, brought out of retirement in the last two weeks to rescue a midfield further depleted by injury to Tom Cleverley and Darren Fletcher's chronic health problems.
While United tried hard to recruit Wesley Sneijder from Internazionale last summer- and the £30m Dutchman is understood to remain keen on a move to Old Trafford - Modric is at the top of manager Sir Alex Ferguson's summer shopping list.
Action man: United want Modric to bolster their injury-hit midfield
Action man: United want Modric to bolster their injury-hit midfield
Sneijder's wages have always been the sticking point, with the attacking midfielder needing £250,000 a week to match his Inter earnings. Such a deal would break United's pay structure and put him on a salary greater even than top earner Wayne Rooney.
Modric represents better value for money as he could easily double his £60,000-a-week earnings at Spurs by moving to Old Trafford - and still not upset United's best-paid stars.
Wesley Sneijder, left, still tempted by move to Old Trafford
Inter you: Wesley Sneijder, left, is still tempted by move to Old Trafford
The downside for United will be the asking price from Spurs, where Modric has a contract until 2016. Tottenham will resist any sale, as they did last summer, when chairman Daniel Levy turned down a £40m offer for Modric made by Chelsea on the closing day of the transfer window.

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Hmmm... Doubt it. Chelsea will offer more probably.
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