Croation sources last night denied that Tottenham paid Dinamo Zagreb less than Newcastle offered for Luka Modric.
Luka Modric - thought he was joining Newcastle on Friday night
Spurs paid Dinamo Zagreb 21 million euros (£16.6M) for Modric, well below Newcastle’s failed bid of around £20M.
There is also news that Modric accepted a wage offer worth less than £30,000-a-week – but we find that hard to believe. Sources close to the Dinamo club say that Modric was very keen on a move to Newcastle, and even after learning of Tottenham’s counter bid late on Friday night, he thought he would be joining Newcastle. 
It was apparently Newcastle’s reluctance to bid a little more than £20M for the 22-year-old midfielder which opened the way for Spurs to move in.
A source in Zagreb told the Sunday Sun today.
“Luka really wanted to go to Newcastle, but they would not pay more†“Dinamo asked for £25 million and also Modric wanted a little more money in wages – but not much more.â€
“So it is strange that the transfer with Tottenham would be agreed for much less money.â€
Newcastle had held a second round of talks with Zagreb vice-president – and Modric’s agent – Zdravko Mamic in London on Friday. We reported that meeting on Friday. Although Modric believed he was going to Newcastle as late as Friday night, the Croatian star was never apparently in Newcastle.
Mamic and his brother were in Newcastle for talks on Tuesday, but Modric was not with them.
This news makes it even harder to take as a Newcastle fan, because the reports we were getting from Zagreb on Friday from our readers was that the deal with Newcastle was going through.
Newcastle have screwed this up - although they didn’t want to be held to ransom for another £5M - and we can kind of understand that - but how did Spurs get the deal done so quickly?
Having been so close to signing a world class player, who wanted to join Newcastle. and would have lit the city up - is hard to take - and that’s a massive massive understatement.
This is not good.
Comments welcome.
56 responses so far ↓
1 adam // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:13
I HATE TOTTENHAM
2 Tom4NUFC // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:15
Well All I can say is ARSHAVIN!!!!!
8-10m Great buy within out reach.
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=gkw-Gq2_op0&NR=1
3 Spyro // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:18
.
4 Geordie Gerrard7 // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:18
i dnt give a shit now, im fed up and cant be bothred to speculate anymore. bye everyone
5 Tom_Toon // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:19
Can we just forget it?
For all we know we could have missed out on Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Romario. Tevez, Maradona behind the scenes but it wasnt published!
Montolivo is far better and probably more realistic.
6 michael // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:22
Obviously a load of tripe Ed. “A source in Zagreb”? This sounds like bitter lemon juice in the eye from some journo’s who were wide of the mark.
Totenham obviously offered more money if indeed we offered anything at all.
This player is not worth 16.6 million pounds sterling. The fact that spurs shelled it out means nothing to me. They paid that much for Darren Bent and seemingly millions every window for average players (See Wayne Routledge, Danny Murphy, Mido and the rest). Again this tag is all about the hype.
Although that said they do seem to be wrapping up deals quickly through scrapping pointless and daft ceremonies such as negotiating price, or players wages. Perhaps caving to demands is more apt a description.
7 killTHEskankYIDS. // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:24
ed, can we ban all the modric reports its getting me depressed. everyone agree
8 looney_toon // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:24
i prefer ARSHAVIN anyway - quicker, stronger, maybe not as skillful but more suited for the premiership
9 Benn..Geordie Down South // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:24
did you here.. when keegan was at newcastle the first time.. we were offered zidane as a youth.. but one of the scouts said he wasnt good enough
lookz like history has repeated itself [ mising out on a future superstar ]
10 Robert-Croatia // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:25
he said that speaking with Juande Ramos made his move to tottenham.So i believe if he had spoken to Kevin Keegan he would almost certain sign for Newcastle
11 Toon1978 // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:25
If he wanted to join us he would of but he can stick it were the sun dont shine let him rot at Spurs the prick.
12 Spyro // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:27
Perhaps true michael, but lets remember that The Sun, who were the first to publish the news of Modric signing for Tottenham also featured quotes from an unnamed croatian source
13 Hadrian // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:30
yeah we really showed our ambition here eh ?
BEHIND spurs is apparently where we want tobe .
modric had no choice of where he was going , his club made the descision for him based on the most cash they were getting .
14 joel // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:32
The Sun reports today that ”Andy Johnson is on the move and manchester city and newcastle united are intrested.
whats you thoughts?
15 Spyro // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:34
dont need another midget striker thanks, got two already lol
16 Geordie Gerrard7 // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:35
andy johnson, no thanks
17 Geordie Gerrard7 // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:36
we should go all out for berba
18 Taiwantoon // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:38
Don’t think Andy Johnson would improve us much…The Duke is better if fit. Kind of worrying rumours to me really. He is a good player but we need better ones to challenge the very bests.
19 Warwick Hunt // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:38
When the rumours 1st started ‘he was available for £12M’ now it seems like Spurs have paid the full asking price of £25M. At £12M he was worth it but at £25M? I don’t think so.
It seems good to me that the new regime will not pay over the odds for players that they have targerted, Spurs have been held to ransom in the fear that one of their targets was about to sign for us and have had to pay well over the odds for him. He’s a good player no doubts but it seems like NUFC are looking to buy equally or better talents before their reputation bumps their price up. Good business sense I think, why pay £25m for 1 player with a reputation as a very good player when we could buy 2 or 3 up and coming talents that the press haven’t hyped up yet. Think about it, that is why Wise and co have beeen brought in to do scout out the up and coming talent. Just about everyone across Europe knew about Modric so it’s no brainer that someone was going to sign him, no scouting genius their my friends, lets wait and see what happens in the transfer window Eh?
20 Spyro // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:39
Berba wants to leave spurs for Champs League, so why would we try and go for him? And even if by some miracle we got him he would only sulk
21 Fernando // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:40
I think Jenas is the CULPRIT! He might have told him we are freaking gold fish ball. Deserves a good flog that boy.
22 YankFanInNZ // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:41
This makes no sense. Why would Dinamo turn down 20M from us, ask for25M, but then settle for 16.6M from Spurs? Why would they leave 3.4M on the table?
23 kris // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:41
wouldnt worry about it boys plenty more fish in the sea,he was too small anyway need someone a bit stronger,dont know about world class neither, he”ll get kicked all over in the premier league
24 Geordie Gerrard7 // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:41
coz he supports the toon, and for a better challange
25 t-g-w // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:45
Tom4NUFC that video of ARshavin makes him look like more of a striker to me. I know he can play in both positions but I’d rather see see his play-making skills. Looks a very good player and very strong so suited to the Prem but I’m just worried about the lack of height in our team. How realistic do you think that link to Huntelaar was? Would be a great signing.
26 zhun // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:45
we missed him, do lets forget about him
now listen up Kev, we are hurted, so sign a Arshavin to heal our wounds!
27 Danzo // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:59
I am glad that Mike and Chris will not be forced or ransomed into paying stupid amounts for players, shows good business sense..
would have been a great player to sign, but i am sure there are plenty of other players out there to sign.
time to move on and get over it and on with it..
28 iain // Apr 27, 2008 at 12:59
modric may well one day be worth 25m but tbh as gutted we didnt get him as i am. had we signed him we would all be here talking about the merits of paying 25m million for a player whos name is based upon some good international games. i happen to think he will do well over here but it looks simply that nufc didnt want to gamble which given our past record of buying foriegners is understandable.
29 Tom4NUFC // Apr 27, 2008 at 13:01
Arshavin is a goal scoring attacking midfeilder who can also play 2nd stricker
30 dick // Apr 27, 2008 at 13:06
Not sure about this connection with spurs ashley and spurs owner ,wise and poyet,jimerez ,vetere.Whats going on , anyone got any ideas
31 MektiG // Apr 27, 2008 at 13:27
this is not good?
i really dont think modric is worth that kind of money.
i think this is good..
32 Davy C // Apr 27, 2008 at 13:29
To me the whole thing shows how ridiculous the role of agents has become where a player claims that he hasn’t ended up where he thought he was going. The extra fee (if this is true) would no doubt be related to an agents pay off and that may be how Spurs have paid less with Zagreb accepting a bigger agent fee and a cut for themselves.
I dunno - it stinks whatever way you look at it - but there are some cracking players still out there and Keegan knows who he is after so hopefully he’ll be successful!
33 valle // Apr 27, 2008 at 13:45
The new owners will have to get used to how football transfers works faster than fast, because this is not only a signing lost, its also a morale blow to us fans and perhaps the current squad… FFS, give that bit ekstra to push the deal through. isnt that how fast deals are done?
34 ToonDaft // Apr 27, 2008 at 13:46
it certainly does stink - Spurs have probs paid the agents a wee bit more and they have twisted Modric’s initial desire to join us - if so, i hope the extra monies bring them syphilis
35 Andy1 // Apr 27, 2008 at 13:53
Sounds like something dodgy at their end, not ours if Spurs got him for less than we offered. It seems normal that we would try to negotiate the transfer fee down. Holding firm we’d have known that someone could bid more and talk to the player. If Spurs have got him for less, something weird is going on that our people couldn’t have expected and they can’t really be blamed. Its a risk to pay £25 mil for a relatively unknown inexperienced player who may struggle to adapt to the prem. It makes sense that they didn’t rush too much and end up paying over the odds.
Anyway, move on - look for someone better (perhaps cheaper) and hope he is shit for Spurs.
36 TooooooN // Apr 27, 2008 at 14:04
We are too “soft” in the transfer market…most players would love to play for us but our seriousness towards that players is now high as other clubs. If all good available players are taken then we left with average players….
37 jacob // Apr 27, 2008 at 14:13
I’m not surprised in the slightest…Mort has already signalled Ashley’s intentions of keeping the purse strings tighter than a duck’s rear cavity. All this talk about how we ‘won’t be anyones mugs ‘ in the transfer market and how we won’t be making any more ‘trophy signings’ is merely to prepare the fans for more disappointment in the summer. Let’s not forget that Ashley has only spent 9m on the first team so far and that last season we were outspent by just about everyone - including the mighty Scumderland! I sincerely hope I’m wrong, but I’ve got ‘that feeling’ again - we are going to have to lower our sights yet again. Apparently there are a few players plying their trade for Jarrow Roofing and Seaham Bluestar that we’re watching at the minute - and until Ashley releases some real funds, I’ll refuse to get excited in any way about transfer rumours…and not before!
38 dave // Apr 27, 2008 at 14:31
some people talk utter garbage on this site modric is not worth 25M
39 Newcastle United. // Apr 27, 2008 at 14:33
Im still devistated!
40 HHmmmm // Apr 27, 2008 at 14:37
I have a real bad feeling about this summer.
Strange now that 2 targets ended up at Spurs, especially with Ashley have so many connection with Spurs.
It is safe to assume no decent players to come this year - looks like incoming of Gardner, Johnson, Pennant, etc…..so we better get used to disappiontment.
I would love to understand this “love-in” with Ashley as well. Why are so many people so expectant of him spending big money at any stage? And don´t tell me about him clearing debts, etc….all this does is make NUFC a better proposition to investors on buying the club.
Get ready for another struggling season coming up, looks like MA is prepared to accept a lower acheiving team - still plenty of muppets that will by NIFC shirts in his shops, no?
As for the discrepancies in value on Modric, I think this is because different reports talk in different currencies.
15.8M GBP is 20M euros, and when you add in extras, it is more than feasible that we ar hitting the 25M (euros) mark.
Probable that we only offered 12M GBP which is only 15M euros - here we can see a big difference.
41 Geordie Gerrard7 // Apr 27, 2008 at 14:40
i still cant look at modric to spurs articles, its really paining me
42 Paul // Apr 27, 2008 at 15:05
First time poster. This site is becoming another favorite of mine.
With regards to signings, whether Modric or others, it’s just not advisable to pay “stupid” money. That said, if Spurs did pay less for Modric than Newcastle offered, it would not surprise me that they were “held up” by his agent for more for themselves. Not only were our club scewed, but possibly so was Modric.
43 banned // Apr 27, 2008 at 15:06
i cant believe we miss out on him.
44 bailey // Apr 27, 2008 at 15:19
Spurs connection with Ashley always raising its ugly head. Makes you wonder though.
45 Mark // Apr 27, 2008 at 15:24
Cant believe it. Useless Newcastle cant sign anybody as they are too slow in the market. We wont sign anybody if this is a sign of things to come.
46 N1Andy // Apr 27, 2008 at 15:33
As a PLC Spurs would be in a whole world of trouble if they lied to the stock exchange when announcing the price/transfer. To me this would suggest that Newcastle either didn’t offer the amount suggested, or that they didn’t actually make an offer at all!
47 Len // Apr 27, 2008 at 16:15
This is Eastern Europe. We will never know the truth. Probably good we didnt do the deal.
48 Michael // Apr 27, 2008 at 17:05
Sounds to me like officially it was less money, but that these comments suggest that because its surpring there may be a bung involved.
49 Gareth // Apr 27, 2008 at 17:36
For clarification - do I remember that agent Peter Harrison was involoved somewhere in the Modric discussions? The same one who was one of the subjects of the Panorama corruption programme? Draw your own conclusions…
50 moomfan // Apr 27, 2008 at 17:42
do not despair laddies, modric does not deserve any feelings from newcastle fans. if in fact we really wanted to sign him, i know for a fact we would have. remember ashley didn’t get to be where he is by being reserved. the real truth is we were interested, but the spurs wanted to him with all their might, as though he is going to make them better…ha, ha, ha, yeah right. lets see, they got busted up by us when jol was manager, they got busted up with ramos in charge, and we are going to feel what because they got modric. all things happen for a reason. what i do know is that newcastle has their inherent and rightful manager back. and if the man did not prove that to you by his previous spell and his more recent turnaround, then you are truly not newcastle fans. regardless of what happens this summer, newcastle will finish above tot-none, pots-mouth, everton, west ham and eggs, man i wish i was united city, and all those second rate clubs that try to interfere with our progress. i can honestly say so because i know that keggy is a devious b-tard that gets his revenge…ask sir alex.
51 apan // Apr 27, 2008 at 17:59
i think someone might twist it, so its not our fault really, even modric was confused, bloody spurs
52 ChrisL // Apr 27, 2008 at 18:41
Ed,
“Newcastle have screwed this up”
Why do you continue to make such stupid comments? Think before you type, please!
53 Leo // Apr 27, 2008 at 18:42
aghh yes me too, i cant look at articles with spurs in.
i hated them before this but now i am close to being more angry hahaha
54 Tripp // Apr 28, 2008 at 4:58
Listen to all of you whinging about this. If Spurs did in fact pay 25M for him then NUFC were wise to steer clear. Yes he’s a good player, but not for that kind of fee. We got into massive debt spending that kinda money in the past. We’re out of debt now. M&A don’t want to go right back into the red, it’s not good business and it’s not good for the club in the long run.
55 ChrisL // Apr 28, 2008 at 10:15
I totally agree with Tripp, £25m is far too much of a gamble on such a player & in our current position.
Let’s also face it, Spurs are in Europe next year as they were this season.
56 GinolasBestYears // Apr 28, 2008 at 15:09
Howabout relocation of NUFC to a modern city? It will surely help Newcastles fast diminishing hopes of lifting a trophy one day.
I think long term benefits (attracting players who yearn for first world amenities, electricity and modern clothing and haircuts) really will overshadow the short term onconvenience?
Just a thought.
See you in Europe next year!
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