Modric is Premier League's hottest property this summer

Although Spurs swiftly rejected the bid, it is expected that Chelsea will come back with an improved offer, and likely to face competition from both Manchester United and City. The player has voiced his desire to be transferred, stating unambiguously that he 'wants to leave'.

With the recent inflated transfers of Andy Carroll for 35m (Newcastle to Liverpool), Fernando Torres for 50m (Liverpool to Chelsea) and Jordan Henderson for 20m (Sunderland to Liverpool), Spurs will no doubt demand in excess of 30m, and if a bidding war takes off with Man City involved, may even end up somewhere near the 50m mark.

But Spurs will be loathe to sell their midfield maestro even for that high a price. Operating from central midfield, last season Modric established himself as Tottenham’s most important player, with his world class technique enabling him to take control of games and play them at his tempo. Whilst Bale grabbed the headlines with his destructive pace, it was Modric who knitted together the team with his calm, confident possession play.

He is irreplaceable for Spurs. Or at least almost impossible to replace, as though the cash they would receive for him would enable them to afford another world class player, it is unlikely any will want to join a team not in the Champions League, has a relatively small wage bill and that has just sold its best player.

Chairman Daniel Levy should learn from his mistake in 2008, when he let star strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane be sold, replacing them with players unproven in the premiership. Regarding Modric, he has clarified that Tottenham are 'not prepared to sell' him 'at any price', and now 'considers the matter closed'. How sincere these comments are we shall soon find out.

Tottenham’s rivals, however, would be wise to go all out to obtain the diminutive Croatian. There are few central midfielders in the world better than him, and perhaps none – barring Cesc Fabregas – playing better in the Premier League today. Also, unlike potential expensive foreign imports, Modric has had three years in the Premiership already, in which he has improved gradually to become the almost-complete player he is today. Buying him would be in no way a risk.

For Chelsea he would insert an extra creative spark that was so tellingly missing last season. Either alongside Lampard and Essien/Ramires in a midfield three, or on the left in a 4-4-2, one would imagine Modric would fit in seamlessly; or at least he certainly will more than Torres was ever likely to. That Roman Abramovich has made a move for him before having even brought in a new manager suggests that whoever Chelsea’s next manager is the pursuit for Modric will continue.

It was widely stated all last season that United’s main weakness was creativity in central midfield and what with their history of buying from Tottenham (Carrick in 2006, Berbatov in 2008), a move for Modric makes perfect sense. With Paul Scholes just retired, Modric would light up the central midfield area with the kind of technical ability not seen at Old Trafford since the former player’s heyday.

Manchester City, meanwhile, would benefit not only from having Modric in their team, but removing him from their closest rivals. Over the last two seasons Spurs have been their main hurdle in pursuit of the final Champions League slot, and Modric has produced some of his finest performances against them. He may not however fit in as seamlessly as at United and Chelsea, for either he would have to adopt a more attacking position that he is less comfortable in, or City would have to alter their system to allow him to break forward from central midfield.

Being such a quality, proven player, it will be worth following the transfer saga of Luka Modric this summer, as the nature of his potential transfer may well shape the order of next season’s top four.

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