AVB wants Modric situation resolved quickly but says it has not disrupted Spurs' plans

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UPDATED:

15:28 GMT, 16 August 2012

Andre Villas-Boas insists the Luka Modric transfer saga will not disrupt preparations for his first match in charge of Tottenham this weekend.

Real Madrid are closing in on the signature of Modric after Villas-Boas revealed that talks with the Spanish champions regarding a deal for the playmaker are progressing well.

Hands up who wants to leave Spurs: Luka Modric is set to sign for Real Madrid this weekend

The latest offer for the Croatia
midfielder to be turned down by Spurs was for 38million, comprising
30m in cash with the remainder in add-ons over the length of Modric’s
contract.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been
adamant he will not accept less than 40m and is also unhappy with the
percentage of the money Jose Mourinho’s Spanish champions are proposing
to pay in add-ons.

But Real have told Tottenham
officials they are now willing to increase the cash portion of the fee
to around 34m — and are confident the deal can be concluded by the
weekend.

And Villas-Boas sounded hopeful that the player's four-year stint at White Hart Lane would end soon.

Modric, who was fined and forced to
train on his own after refusing to go on tour with Tottenham, now looks
set to get his dream move.

Impressive: Modric was in excellent form for Croatia against Spain in Euro 2012 and appeared at the Bernabeu with Spurs in the Champions League quarter-final two years ago (below)

For the second season running Spurs
have had to deal with Modric demanding to leave the club, but
Villas-Boas hopes the player's exit will be finalised soon to leave him
to be able to concentrate on his Tottenham bow at Newcastle on Saturday.

'No, this is not a distraction,' Villas-Boas said.

'We set out a plan for the player and we have stuck to it.

'The player is training individually and he doesn't disrupt our environment.

'I think we will have a conclusion in the next couple of weeks.

'We expect him here to train. He is
still a Tottenham player but from what the chairman has told me talks
are ongoing, they stalled a little bit two weeks ago, but they have
picked up recently.'

On the move: Modric played against Real Madrid for Tottenham in the Champions League and now looks set to join them

Villas-Boas would like the situation
resolved as soon as possible so he can use the funds to buy a
replacement for Modric and bulk up a squad that currently has only one
recognised striker in Jermain Defoe.

'Obviously we have outlined a couple of solutions (for a Modric replacement),” Villas-Boas added.

'We have made initial contact with a
couple of clubs but I think before this situation is resolved we can't
do anything because we already have a certain amount of players in that
position.'

Sad to see him go: Jermain Defoe says losing Modric will be hard on Spurs

One player who will be sad to see Modric go is Defoe, he said: 'Luka is a fantastic player. A lot has gone on. As players we don't know what's gone on.

'He's been at the club – and he's been good for the club to be honest. If he does end up going, for us it is hard to lose someone like that.

'But, for him, I would say good luck to him because he's a fantastic player.'

Villas-Boas, who was sacked by
Chelsea in March after just nine months in charge, insists he is not
panicking about his striker shortage and is confident that youngster
Harry Kane is now good enough to play in the Barclays Premier League.

Defoe claimed earlier this week that
he would have to consider his future if he did not play regularly, but
Villas-Boas calmed fears the striker, who scored a fine strike for
England last night, could leave.

Looking forward: Andre Villas-Boas is planning for life without Modric

'I have spoken to Jermain and his agent about the situation. The talks were positive,' Villas-Boas said.

'Obviously we are looking for one more striker because we need one.
'Jermain scored 18 goals last year. He was a key player and will
continue to be. That's the expectancy I have with regards to his future.

'Competition is something that he is used to. The goal that he scored yesterday shows he can make the difference.

'He is tremendous. It was a great goal, he has great technical ability.'

Tottenham have been looking to sign a
striker all summer, but talks with Manchester City about Emmanuel
Adebayor have so far failed.

Target: Villas-Boas hopes to sign Emmanuel Adebayor

Villas-Boas remains hopeful that the Togo striker, who was on loan at White Hart Lane last year, could sign next week, however.

He said: 'There are talks (with City). They have been happening for quite some time.

'We have touched on different players in that position, but we have not been able to conclude a deal.

'Our focus and attention is towards that position, which we will try to sort out next week.'

Villas-Boas hit out at Chelsea owner
Roman Abramovich after he was sacked in the spring and he is now
determined to prove his doubters wrong this season at Spurs, who
finished fourth last year under his predecessor Harry Redknapp.

'I think you could say that (what happened at Chelsea) has increased the desire,' Villas-Boas said.

'You can never put my individual
ambitions and hunger above those of the club, but I want to transfer
this hunger to the players.'