Luka Modric is now officially a wantaway

"Luka, I can't show you the other part of my body equally excited to see you play"

Spurs fans are going to be heartbroken. Luka Modric has signaled his intention to leave White Hart Lane for Stamford Bridge. it's all because he wants to continue to be part of the Champions League every year. He mentions it at least 50 times. Which should make him an Arsenal target instantly. Because we aspire for no more, no less.

"It's a short period [your career] and you want to fulfil your personal ambitions as a football player, win trophies, play Champions League football every year," he said.

But it is Chelsea he's set his sights on.

"They are going in a great direction and everything about the club is very good. They [Chelsea] are the only one who sent an offer and they are at the moment my first choice."

There are other suitors like City and United but Modric does not want to leave London. This is shaping up to be the battle royal of the summer because the Croatian is Spurs's metronome despite all of Rafael Van Der Vaart's thunder which amounts to mostly dark clouds, an occasional drizzle, and an infinitely rarer shower.

Harry Redknapp is going to go over Cesc Fabregas territory and demand £40m or more. Chelsea have been missing a midfield spark for a while. Their last genuine playmaker was Deco in his waning years. But more pressingly where does that leave Spurs? It is no secret they are cracking the upper echelons after Modric moved further upfield under Redknapp's reconfiguration to assume the creative role while leaving Tom Huddlestone cleaning up further down.

Modric is now a cult figure amongst Spurs. They've had their flings with Gareth Bale and Van Der Vaart, both after their highlight reels have flamed out like Icarus. However, Modric is the one constant that brings a smile to their lips because he's the real deal. A great little footballer with tidy feet. Pierre Littbarski? Does that ring a bell?

This is where Redknapp has to make a stand. Spurs are actually a team of mercenaries (Benoit Assou- Ekotto has the last word on this topic) given a semblance of authority under Modric. There are no easy replacements unless Wesley Sneijder tweets his love for Spurs folklore tomorrow.