English Premiership
Modric deserves raise - coach
2011-09-19 17:08
London - Wantaway Croatian midfielder Luka Modric deserves a pay raise for showing his worth as the mainstay of Sunday's 4-0 swamping of Liverpool, according to coach Harry Redknapp.
Modric scored the opener at White Hart Lane in Spurs' biggest win over Liverpool for 48 years and then pulled the strings thereafter, leaving Redknapp highly impressed.
"If he is worth 40million (pounds) then life tells you that you have to be paid accordingly doesn't it? You can't say he is worth 40million and want to pay him the wages of someone who is worth 5million," said Redknapp.
"That doesn't ring true does it? We have to convince him that his future is here and make it right for the boy, that's only fair as well, and I'm sure the chairman will be fair and make sure he does that," concluded Redknapp, who managed to stave off several summer bids from Chelsea - the last one of £40 million.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused point blank to sell although Modric angered Spurs fans by declaring in interviews that he wanted to be allowed to make a 'dream' move to Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old player also blasted Levy in an interview with a Croatian newspaper in which he said the latter had reneged on an agreement that would allow him to leave if a big club came in for his services.
Modric then declined to play against Manchester United with Redknapp saying the star's mind was not on his game.
Despite the summer spats, Redknapp says Modric has shown with suberb performances against Wolves and now Liverpool that he deserves a payrise above his reported weekly wage of between £40 000 and £50 000 pounds a week.