Tottenham Hotspur have spent huge on the midfield in latest occasions, however can anybody ever get near Luka Modric in north London? That is the query.
There’s all the time lots of love for Mousa Dembele, contemplating his central position in Mauricio Pochettino’s beloved aspect, but as he is gone on to showcase since, Modric is arguably that class above.
Certainly, the Croatian genius is the benchmark in terms of modern-day Spurs midfielders, with any form of comparability to the diminutive expertise undoubtedly a flattering one.
How a lot Spurs paid for Modric
He won’t have been a family identify on the time of his transfer to White Hart Lane, but Modric was not precisely a relative unknown in 2008, having been courted by golf equipment throughout Europe and the Premier League.
Notably a part of Croatia’s World Cup squad in 2006 – as he was once more this summer season – the then-youngster had captured the curiosity of the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, with Newcastle United additionally making a push for his signature.
Fortunately, it was Daniel Levy who managed to win the race ultimately, forking out a then joint-record charge for the membership of £15m, a determine matched by the signing of Darren Bent.
In Modric’s case, this was a participant whom Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan had admitted “each different membership within the league” would need, with it shortly changing into clear that Spurs had struck gold along with his arrival.
Is Modric Spurs’ greatest expertise of the twenty first Century?
In all, the diminutive playmaker spent 4 years in English soccer, scoring and aiding 42 targets in 160 video games in all competitions, albeit whereas strolling away empty-handed when it comes to silverware.
He’d lengthy been linked with an exit by the point Actual Madrid got here sniffing round in 2012, the midfielder even receiving a high-quality for failing to show up for Tottenham’s pre-season journey to america.
Alas, that ought to not tarnish his genius too vastly, with it price remembering that he has since develop into a Ballon d’Or winner in any case, selecting up the award in 2018 after guiding Croatia to the World Cup remaining.
That is an honour that not even Gareth Bale or Harry Kane have claimed, albeit with the latter man hoping to vary that dynamic this yr following a outstanding 2026 at Bayern Munich.
You’ll nonetheless should say that Kane ranks on the high of the tree when it comes to Tottenham’s star performers within the twenty first Century, but Modric could be in rivalry with the likes of Bale, Dembele and Heung-min Son for second place, having loved such a storied profession in European soccer.
Do Spurs doubtlessly have the subsequent Modric already within the constructing?
How Spurs struck gold with the ‘new Modric’
It is tough to be too optimistic proper now concerning Roberto De Zerbi’s aspect, following a winless begin to the Premier League season, with Spurs slipping to the underside of the desk heading into the worldwide break.
Too many new signings have failed to fireside, too lots of the skilled gamers have gone off the boil too, with work nonetheless to be carried out for De Zerbi to show his new-look group right into a coherent, profitable outfit once more.
If there’s any purpose for positivity, it is likely to be the younger core that continues to be at N17, not least in midfield, be it Mateus Fernandes, Archie Grey or Lucas Bergvall.
In Bergvall’s case, he regarded set to maneuver on at one stage this summer season, amid the push for elevated sport, but maintaining maintain of him might show an actual coup.
Now, it isn’t precisely been a profitable begin to the season once more for the Swede, notably hooked on the break towards Brentford, though he regarded way more like himself within the Carabao Cup towards Liverpool, dragging the guests ahead repeatedly.
|
Bergvall vs Liverpool |
|
|---|---|
|
Stat |
File |
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Touches |
77 |
|
Cross accuracy |
96% |
|
Large possibilities created |
1 |
|
Key passes |
3 |
|
Succ. dribbles |
2/2 |
|
Ball misplaced |
6 |
|
Carries |
31 |
|
Progressive Carries |
7 |
|
Floor duels gained |
7/10 |
|
Aerial duels gained |
1/2 |
It is not been seen sufficient since his arrival again in 2024, but there is a sleek, pure high quality to Bergvall’s sport that basically does stand out, with De Zerbi certainly the right coach to coax him out of his shell correctly.
Not essentially outlined by or pigeonholed into one midfield position, like Modric, the teenager floats across the pitch so effortlessly, such a pleasure to observe in full circulate.
Within the view of The Athletic’s JJ Bull, for example, Bergvall even has a primary contact “like Modric“, with there a purpose why golf equipment had been queuing as much as signal him over the summer season.
Certainly, Newcastle – the membership as soon as eager to signal Modric – even lodged a bid of round £46m as they sought to exchange Sandro Tonali, albeit with Spurs setting an asking value of greater than £60m.
If taking simply that £46m determine, it marks a sizeable 475% enhance on the preliminary £8m charge that was paid to prise him from Djurgarden, with the Lilywhites having certainly secured a discount, no matter whether or not they do resolve to promote or not heading into 2027.
Contemplating the 20-year-old did pen a contract extension earlier this month, it seems like this Modric-esque midfielder is right here to remain for a wee whereas but.
