Tag Archives: exodus

John Terry heading for Chelsea exit

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Terry could join Blues exodus with Chelsea refusing to offer skipper new deal

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UPDATED:

12:09 GMT, 21 October 2012

Exodus: Terry could leave Chelsea at the end of this season

Exodus: Terry could leave Chelsea at the end of this season

Chelsea captain John Terry could leave Stamford Bridge as early as next summer with the club not prepared to renew his current contract.

Terry's deal expires in 2014 but with fellow 30-somethings Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole heading for the Blues' exit door Terry could be tempted to hasten his exit and head for the MLS at the end of the season.

According the Sunday People the decision to let Terry leave is due to the board's concerns over the 31-year-old defender's fitness and not his four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

LA Galaxy will try again to lure Lampard to the club in January, with the midfielder out of favour and in the last year of his contract.

Lampard started on the bench in the 4-2 win at Tottenham on Saturday with Ramires and John Obi Mikel again preferred.

MLS commissioner Don Garber previously insisted there would be no shortage of suitors were Lampard to make it known he wanted to end his career in America.

Garber said: 'Frank Lampard's a great player. He has a great history with the sport. If he decides he wants to play in Major League Soccer, I'm sure any club would be happy to have him on their roster.'

Across the pond: Lampard (left) is set to move to LA Galaxy

Across the pond: Lampard (left) is set to move to LA Galaxy

Garber was speaking at the Leaders in Football Conference at Stamford Bridge and asked if he would exploit that opportunity, he joked: 'I'll go into the locker room and see if I can chat him up.'

Cole is also set to leave at the end of the season as he is not prepared to sign a one-year contract. Paris Saint-Germain are leading the race for his signature.

Jason Koumas training with Sheffield Wednesday

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Forgotten midfielder Koumas joins Owls on trial in bid to end exodus

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UPDATED:

10:23 GMT, 11 September 2012

Jason Koumas could return from the footballing wilderness by earning a contract with Championship club Sheffield Wednesday.

The Wales international has been without a club since leaving Wigan 16 months ago but has joined the Owls on trial.

And manager Dave Jones, who signed the 32-year-old for Cardiff, hopes to take a closer look over the coming days.

Looking for a way back: Jason Koumas is training with Sheffield Wednesday

Looking for a way back: Jason Koumas is training with Sheffield Wednesday

Koumas is on trial with the newly-promoted side and played in a behind-closed-doors match last week.

Jones said: ‘Jason is looking all right. He played 80 minutes in the practice match last Tuesday, and he is getting fitter and better all the time.

‘It is an opportunity to have a look at him. We are getting Jason fit, and we will assess it day by day with him.’

James Milner confident Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli would stay

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Milner always confident Tevez and Balotelli would remain at champions City

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UPDATED:

10:59 GMT, 19 August 2012

James Milner insists he is not surprised to see Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez still at Manchester City as they prepare to defend their Barclays Premier League crown.

Both players were at times last season linked with moves away from the Etihad Stadium, with each of them having their own clashes with manager Roberto Mancini.

However, both played their part in City's dramatic title triumph and remain in the north west as they prepare to resume against Southampton on Sunday.

Here to stay: Carlos Tevez has looked sharp ahead of the new season

Here to stay: Carlos Tevez has looked sharp ahead of the new season

Despite all the speculation surrounding the likes of Balotelli and Tevez, England midfielder Milner fully expected them to remain with City.

He told Five Live's Sportsweek programme: 'I'm not surprised, no.

'They're both top-class players along with many others we are lucky enough to have in the squad.

'As a team you want to move forward and we say that every year we want to improve on what we did last year. That is as individuals and as a team and as a club.

Main man: Mario Balotelli (centre) was linked with a move away this summer

Main man: Mario Balotelli (centre) was linked with a move away this summer

'We want to move forward and get bigger and better.'

The 26-year-old admits the ramifications should City have not won the title, after being in pole position for so long, could have taken some time to overcome.

'I think it might have taken a while to recover from that,' he said. 'Obviously with the way the season went, the ups and downs, we had it won and then United seemed to have it won.

'Then it to'd and fro'd to the last seconds of the season.

Confident: James Milner didn't fear an exodus of City's star players

Confident: James Milner didn't fear an exodus of City's star players

'It was great for us to win the league – fantastic achievement but it goes by so quickly and that has gone now.'

Neither is Milner looking at United's capture of Robin van Persie, which has given their neighbours a fearsome front line of Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and the Dutchman.

'We'll just concentrate on ourselves and prepare ourselves as we best can for our season,' he said.

'They are a top side: they have shown that over the years and their strengthening but they are not going to be the only club challenging this year.'

Allan McGregor seals Besiktas switch

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McGregor delighted to swap Rangers for Turkey after big-money move to Besiktas

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UPDATED:

23:23 GMT, 10 July 2012

Former Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor agreed a big-money move to Turkish club Besiktas on Tuesday.

The Istanbul side confirmed on their official website that negotiations were ongoing with the 30-year-old Scotland international about a switch to the Super Lig.

Heading out of Ibrox: Allan McGregor could be on his way to Turkey

Heading out of Ibrox: Allan McGregor could be on his way to Turkey

McGregor's agent recently flew to
Turkey to discuss a possible move with club officials and talks started
to move quickly when Besiktas pulled the plug on a 4million swoop for
Nice keeper and Colombian international David Ospina.

That made free agent McGregor their
new No 1 target and, having already chosen a place to live in Istanbul,
he agreed to join the club on a three-year deal.

In action: McGregor secured a big money move to Turkey

In action: McGregor secured a big money move to Turkey

He will now travel to Istanbul where, pending a medical, he will join his new team-mates for pre-season training.

In a grim irony for the Scotland star
after leaving his Ibrox troubles behind, however, there will still be
no European football next season as Besiktas, who finished fourth in
their league, are banned for one season due to financial problems.

Ahmet Pipe, chairman of the Besiktas Football Committee, said: 'We wanted Ospina and we were in negotiations for over a month.

'However, the fees for the transfer kept changing and were very high. a transfer was too difficult.

'McGregor was next on our list of candidates and we had already negotiated with him.

'We have researched him and we know what house he wants, we have examined his lifestyle and his family structure.

Exodus: Steven Naismith left Rangers for Everton

Exodus: Steven Naismith left Rangers for Everton

'We expect him to join our training camp in Austria on July 18.'

McGregor, one of the top earners at
Rangers, was among those who agreed to a 75 per cent wage cut in a
doomed bid to keep the club alive.

But he called time on his Ibrox
career, following a 14-year association with the club, by refusing to
transfer his contract to the new Rangers company fronted by Charles
Green.

The 21-times capped keeper will be hoping to fare better in Turkey than former colleagues Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd.

Miller cut short a 50,000-per-week
deal with Bursaspor, while Boyd, currently playing for Portland Timbers,
had to go through FIFA to secure 2.4m he was owed by Eskisehirspor.
McGregor is the sixth former Ibrox star who failed to reach agreement
with newco Rangers to find a new club.

He follows Steven Naismith (now
Everton), Steven Whittaker (Norwich), Jamie Ness (Stoke), Steven Davis
(Southampton) and Kyle Lafferty (Sion).

Lee Clark set to be announced as Birmingham manager

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Birmingham manger search enters final stages with Clark announcement expected

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UPDATED:

08:40 GMT, 25 June 2012

Lee Clark is expected to be announced as the new Birmingham boss this week as the Blues conclude their search for a new boss after Chris Hughton's exit to Norwich.

The cash-strapped west Midlands club have spoken to a number of candidates but now plan to offer the former Huddersfield boss the role.

Clark underwent two rounds of interviews and impressed City chief Peter Pannu sufficiently to encourage the club to make him an offer.

Brum-bound Clark looks set to be announced as Birmingham boss

Brum-bound Clark looks set to be announced as Birmingham boss

Pannu was asked by club owner Carson Yeung to interview ex-Sunderland chief Roy Keane, but Keane wanted assurances about the job that Pannu was unable to offer.

Alan Curbishley also met the club's main decision-maker but withdrew his application shortly afterwards.

However Clark will have to deal with the club's continuing finance problems and another potential exodus of their best players.

Jordan Mutch was sold to rivals Cardiff last week, Ben Foster is set to join West Brom, Curtis Davies has been linked with a move to join Hughton at Norwich and Southampton are chasing Jack Butland.

Rangers in crisis: Players will leave – Mark Hateley

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McCoist could walk out if Rangers lose stars, warns Ibrox hero Hateley

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UPDATED:

21:51 GMT, 21 May 2012

Former Rangers hero Mark Hateley fears Ally McCoist could quit Ibrox — if a summer exodus of stars renders the club unable to compete for honours.

The manager has held Rangers together since they were plunged into administration in February, acting as everything from head of the football department to spokesman for the entire Ibrox family.

Although McCoist has insisted he has no intention of walking away, former strike partner Hateley is concerned that losing his best players — and being unable to replace them because of an SFA transfer embargo — will present him with a tricky dilemma.

Old and new: Young defender Chris Hegarty (left) and club legend Mark Hateley

Old and new: Young defender Chris Hegarty (left) and club legend Mark Hateley

‘He needs the team to be competitive, that’s the key,’ said Hateley. ‘All top players have that edge, as do top managers. Ally needs Rangers to have a chance of winning something.

‘When that comes along, a decision will have to be taken. If Ally thinks he can make the club competitive, retain some of the better players, then who knows’

Asked outright if McCoist’s future hinged on keeping a core of experienced pros on board, Hateley (left) said: ‘Yes. You have a club that is in crisis and a governing body trying to get its house in order.

‘You have to get the wage bill down. To do that, you have to sell your best players. If they go and you can’t bring in any other players, the club is finished.

‘The top players might leave and contracts could be ripped up should the club come back as a newco. You could end up with 20 players leaving and not being able to sign any.

‘You have to look at Ally in all of this. The fans will be disappointed if the takeover deal doesn’t go through, but where will Ally be if nothing positive comes out of this

Work to be done: Ally McCoist faces a fight to keep hold of his stars

Work to be done: Ally McCoist faces a fight to keep hold of his stars

‘Half the players might not be here next year.

In my opinion, you might as well go to the Third Division in those circumstances because then you could rebuild over a period of time.

‘You’ve effectively got your legs tied together and you are trying to play a game of football. That is what I can’t understand in all this.

‘I would say being a Rangers fan has played a part in Ally staying around. But he is an intelligent man and he doesn’t give up — that’s why he had a successful playing career.

‘If it wasn’t Rangers, it might have been different for him. If you don’t have a love of the club, your mindset will be different.

‘You always learn more in the bad times — it’s easy when you are winning. He had a lot of great times as a player and as assistant under Walter Smith.

‘If he can survive this and get the club moving forward, well, he’s been remarkable.’

Tottenham lose 35million through Champions League absence

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Spurs count cost of Champions League absence: 35m and 'door opens for player exodus'

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UPDATED:

14:41 GMT, 21 May 2012

Tottenham's exclusion from the Champions League due to Chelsea's triumph in the tournament will cost Spurs up to 35million in cash – but the real damage could be far greater in terms of keeping their stars, say football finance experts.

Spurs finished fourth in the Barclays Premier League, which would normally guarantee a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, but they lose out because Chelsea take that fourth English place as European title holders.

Tottenham will earn only around 5m in media rights from the Europa League instead of a guaranteed 25m from the Champions League.

Double whammy: Tottenham are out of pocket... and could lose their stars

Double whammy: Tottenham are out of pocket… and could lose their stars

There is also a significant loss in associated matchday, merchandise and sponsorship income that could see a further cost to the club of around 10million.

Even more concerning for fans is the possibility of star players such as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale pushing for a move to clubs that are in the Champions League next season.

Brendan Guilfoyle, a football expert at P&A Partnership, said the headache for Spurs will not just be about balancing the books.

Guilfoyle said: 'In terms of the effect financially, Spurs is a well-run club but revenues will inevitably be lower so they will have to adjust that in terms of the wages they can offer and the transfer fees they can pay and still remain in the black.

Final day despair: Tottenham were closing in on third spot but lost out to Arsenal

Final day despair: Tottenham were closing in on third spot but lost out to Arsenal

Final day despair: Tottenham were closing in on third spot but lost out to Arsenal

'The perhaps more immediate worry for fans, and I am a Tottenham fan myself, is that in terms of signing top players we won't be as attractive as we cannot promise the highest level of club football any more.

'There is also the worry that some of those star players, having tasted the Champions League already, will want to do so again and look to move elsewhere.'

Spurs fans have reacted furiously to missing out on Europe's elite club tournament but UEFA say their competition rules, brought in after Liverpool won the competition but finished outside the top four in the Premier League, are clear.

The UEFA rules state: 'No association may enter more than four clubs for the competition.

Feeling Blue: Chelsea took the title and Spurs' place in the competition

Feeling Blue: Chelsea took the title and Spurs' place in the competition

'The UEFA Champions League title-holder is guaranteed a place in the group stage even if it does not qualify for the competition through its domestic championship.

'If the titleholder comes from an association entitled to four places in the UEFA Champions League and qualifies for the UEFA Europa League through its domestic competitions, the lowest-ranked club of the association's UEFA Champions League representatives is automatically transferred to the UEFA Europa League.'

Tottenham earned 25.1m in TV money and bonuses from their 2010/11 season in the Champions League. An English club making the Europa League quarter-finals earns a total of 5m.

Alan Pardew fears success could cost Newcastle star names

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Pardew fears success could cost Newcastle star names

By
Bob Cass

PUBLISHED:

22:11 GMT, 12 May 2012

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UPDATED:

22:11 GMT, 12 May 2012

Alan Pardew has been named manager of
the year and led Newcastle to the verge of the Champions League – yet
he still fears he won't be able to keep some of his top players.

Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse and Yohan
Cabaye are three of the stars who have sent Newcastle soaring into the
top six – and that has put the players on the radar of Europe's top
clubs.

Price of success: Alan Pardew fears an exodus

Price of success: Alan Pardew fears an exodus

'It's impossible to restrict Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City from coming in for one of our players,' said Pardew.

'We have players who are not on the salaries these top clubs can offer.'

Ba has scored 17 goals in 39 appearances this season after arriving on a free transfer from West Ham.

The 26-year-old Senegal striker was linked with a move away Tyneside in January, with reports that a buy-out clause in his contract would force Newcastle to accept an offer as low as 5million.

'Demba's release clause has been widely publicised. There is some truth to it and some untruth,' said Pardew.

Wanted men: Demba Ba (left) and Papiss Cisse (right)

Wanted men: Demba Ba (left) and Papiss Cisse (right)

Wanted men: Demba Ba (left) and Papiss Cisse (right)

'There is a clause there. There is a situation with his contract and we are in talks with him and his agent. It is not a foregone conclusion that he will stay.

'The one security I have is that Mike Ashley is a difficult seller. He is not going to let someone go for 7m – he is going to want top, top money.

'But, if Yohan Cabaye gets a call from Manchester United and they tell him he is going to be the next Paul Scholes, I am not going to be able to stop him.

Bye-bye Cabaye: Manchester United may come calling

Bye-bye Cabaye: Manchester United may come calling

'It is going to cost Manchester United a shed-load of money but until we have Champions League football – and we might have that by this weekend – we cannot compete with that.'

Newcastle could get into the Champions League by winning at Everton on Sunday, while hoping Arsenal or Spurs slip up and Chelsea don't beat Bayern Munich in the final on Saturday.

Even if the Newcastle manager has to settle for something less than a top-four finish, he will still look back on his first full season in charge as the best of his managerial career.

'When I finished seventh or eighth with West Ham and reached the FA Cup final it was pretty special,' said the 50-year-old Londoner.

'But I have to say that all this tops all that.

'If someone had told me before the season that we would finish above Chelsea and Liverpool and even Aston Villa in the Premier League, then I simply would not have believed them.

'But what this group of Newcastle United players have achieved this season has been nothing short of fantastic. We have competed with the top teams all season and all credit for this goes to our players.'

Pardew talked up the parts played by owner Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias.

The Newcastle manager said: 'I think the fans are warming to Mike Ashley for what he has done here. We are never going to get around the situation regarding the renaming of the stadium.

'That's uncomfortable to everyone, and probably even to Mike but it has been done in an attempt to bring more money into the club.

'We are looking to bring in some younger players because the underbelly of our side is weaker than other top teams.'

Harry Redknapp: Gareth Bale has no chance of joining Barcelona

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Bale to Barca Not a chance insists Harry… even if Euro dream dies

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UPDATED:

20:21 GMT, 11 May 2012

Harry Redknapp has denied claims that a 32million deal is in place for Gareth Bale to join Barcelona this summer.

Reports surfaced in Spain on Friday indicating that the Tottenham winger is set to sign a five-year deal to play alongside Lionel Messi, Xavi and Co.

Bale, 22, has long since been on the La Liga giants’ radar and the Catalan club were believed to be stepping up their efforts to sign the Wales star.

Barca bound Spurs winger Gareth Bale is in demand at the Catalan giants

Barca bound Spurs winger Gareth Bale is in demand at the Catalan giants

But Redknapp said: ‘I don’t know anything about it, this is the first time anything’s been mentioned to me.

‘I haven’t seen that at all and I
wouldn’t think there is the slightest bit of truth in that, wherever it
has come from.

'Not a chance, I would not have thought,’ he added.

The Spurs manager’s words will help
appease growing fears among supporters that Bale could be allowed to
depart White Hart Lane at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Redknapp once again reaffirmed his interest in signing Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen this summer.

The Belgium centre back has pleaded with his club to agree a deal with Spurs to pave the way for his move to north London.

But Sportsmail understands that
Arsenal are closely monitoring the 25-year-old’s situation and are
intending to gazump their arch rivals.

Redknapp admitted: ‘Yes, he
(Vertonghen) is a good player. But it’s difficult for me to talk about
him too much because someone might come in and give him more wages and
we’ll lose him.’

And the 65-year-old joked: ‘Actually, he’s rubbish.’

Wanted: Luka Modric has long been linked with a move across London to Chelsea

Wanted: Luka Modric has long been linked with a move across London to Chelsea

Redknapp insists there will be
no mass exodus of Tottenham's stars this summer even if they fail to
secure Champions League football.

Tottenham
go into Sunday's season-finale knowing a win over Fulham will secure
them fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

Under
normal circumstances that would guarantee Redknapp's team a place in
the Champions League, but should Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the
European Cup final a week on Saturday, Spurs will have to settle for a
place in the Europa League – a competition the Tottenham boss has never
hidden his disdain for.

Redknapp says Bale and other stars like Luka Modric, will remain at White Hart Lane regardless of whether they qualify or not.

'That idea gets a bit over-hyped,' Redknapp said. 'When they [Bale and Modric] came to Tottenham, they weren't in the Champions League. When Luka Modric came here they were nowhere near.

'He didn't come here because they were in the Champions League, he came here because they were a good club, he was on decent money and had a chance to play in the Premier League.

'Are you telling me people aren't going to sign for Chelsea next year if they don't win the Champions League

'Of course they will. If they are paid the right money and get the right contract, they are going to a fantastic club in London.

'They will still go to Chelsea, they will still go to Liverpool because it is a great club and they will still come to Tottenham because it's a great club.'

Spurs fought a ferocious battle with Chelsea last summer to keep hold of Modric despite the Blues submitting a 40million bid for the playmaker.

Redknapp said: 'You have got to keep your best players. If you don't then where are you going You can forget about Champions League football in the future if you sell them and they [Bale and Modric] are two of them.'

There is still a chance that Tottenham can qualify automatically for the Champions League. The Londoners will leapfrog Arsenal in to third if they beat Fulham and the Gunners drop points at West Brom on what promises to be a tense final day of the season.

At one point in January Tottenham were within touching distance of the top of the table, but a terrible run of one win in nine matches saw them slip out of contention for their first title in 51 years.

Out of their hands: Chelsea could ruin Tottenham's Champions League hopes

Out of their hands: Chelsea could ruin Tottenham's Champions League hopes

Despite this, Redknapp insists Spurs' season should be viewed as a success, regardless of whether they make the Champions League or not.

The 65-year-old added: 'If we can finish third it would be great. But if we finish fourth it would still be a great achievement. We would have taken that at the beginning of the season.

'We haven't finished above Chelsea too many times since the Premier League started. We will finish above Liverpool and we will have done that for the past couple of years now.

'Sunday will be a big day. We just have to concentrate on ourselves and get the three points.'

Redknapp admits he has a 'big problem' at left-back for Sunday's game, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto out due to a shoulder injury and back-up Danny Rose missing through suspension.

Scott Parker is also doubt with the Achilles injury that has kept him out of the starting line-up for the last three games.

Harry Redknapp: Spurs keeping Gareth Bale even if Champions League dream dies

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Spurs will keep Bale and Modric… even if Euro dream dies, insists Harry

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UPDATED:

15:27 GMT, 11 May 2012

Harry Redknapp insists there will be no mass exodus of Tottenham's stars this summer even if they fail to secure Champions League football.

Tottenham go into Sunday's season-finale knowing a win over Fulham will secure them fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

Under normal circumstances that would guarantee Redknapp's team a place in the Champions League, but should Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the European Cup final a week on Saturday, Spurs will have to settle for a place in the Europa League – a competition the Tottenham boss has never hidden his disdain for.

Barca bound Spurs winger Gareth Bale is in demand at the Catalan giants

Barca bound Spurs winger Gareth Bale is in demand at the Catalan giants

Gareth Bale has said he will consider his future at Spurs if they are not in Europe's top club competition next season, but Redknapp insists the Welshman, and other stars like Luka Modric, will remain at White Hart Lane regardless of whether they qualify or not.

'That idea gets a bit over-hyped,' Redknapp said. 'When they [Bale and Modric] came to Tottenham, they weren't in the Champions League. When Luka Modric came here they were nowhere near.

'He didn't come here because they were in the Champions League, he came here because they were a good club, he was on decent money and had a chance to play in the Premier League.

'Are you telling me people aren't going to sign for Chelsea next year if they don't win the Champions League

'Of course they will. If they are paid the right money and get the right contract, they are going to a fantastic club in London.

'They will still go to Chelsea, they will still go to Liverpool because it is a great club and they will still come to Tottenham because it's a great club.'

Spurs fought a ferocious battle with Chelsea last summer to keep hold of Modric despite the Blues submitting a 40million bid for the playmaker.

Speculation has already begun about Bale's future, with two Spanish newspapers this week claiming the 22-year-old winger is set for a move to Barcelona.

The former Southampton player admits he would never be able to turn down the Catalan giants, but Redknapp dismissed claims a deal had already been struck to sell the player for 32million, as is being reported in Spain.

Wanted: Luka Modric has long been linked with a move across London to Chelsea

Wanted: Luka Modric has long been linked with a move across London to Chelsea

'I don't know anything about (that story),' Redknapp added. 'I wouldn't think there is the slightest bit of truth in that. Not a chance, I wouldn't have thought.

'You have got to keep your best players. If you don't then where are you going You can forget about Champions League football in the future if you sell them and they [Bale and Modric] are two of them.'

There is still a chance that Tottenham can qualify automatically for the Champions League. The Londoners will leapfrog Arsenal in to third if they beat Fulham and the Gunners drop points at West Brom on what promises to be a tense final day of the season.

At one point in January Tottenham were within touching distance of the top of the table, but a terrible run of one win in nine matches saw them slip out of contention for their first title in 51 years.

Out of their hands: Chelsea could ruin Tottenham's Champions League hopes

Out of their hands: Chelsea could ruin Tottenham's Champions League hopes

Despite this, Redknapp insists Spurs' season should be viewed as a success, regardless of whether they make the Champions League or not.

The 65-year-old added: 'If we can finish third it would be great. But if we finish fourth it would still be a great achievement. We would have taken that at the beginning of the season.

'We haven't finished above Chelsea too many times since the Premier League started. We will finish above Liverpool and we will have done that for the past couple of years now.

'Sunday will be a big day. We just have to concentrate on ourselves and get the three points.'

Redknapp admits he has a 'big problem' at left-back for Sunday's game, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto out due to a shoulder injury and back-up Danny Rose missing through suspension.

Scott Parker is also doubt with the Achilles injury that has kept him out of the starting line-up for the last three games.