‘Leaving do’ must wait

Published: August 25, 2011
OFF THE SHELF with DAN CARRIER

HARRY Redknapp has called for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to open up discussions with want-away midfielder Luka Modric.

Modric missed Monday night’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester United after reportedly telling Redknapp that he was not in the right frame of mind to play at Old Trafford.

The Croatian international has been embroiled in a summer saga surrounding a move to Chelsea, but Redknapp believes clear-the-air talks are needed and that the player should even be offered a new contract.

“The chairman has to sit down and have a chat with him,” the Spurs boss said.

“If they can have a meeting and resolve the whole situation and Daniel tells him we need him, he is important and that we are ambitious and will bring one or two players in, you might find the boy will be OK. The chairman has also said he will look at his contract in a month or two. He told me he would do that.”

The Spurs chief is confident he can still bring the best out of Modric if he remains at White Hart Lane after the August 31 deadline.

“If anyone can pick him up, I can,” insisted  Redknapp.

“I have a great relationship with him.”