Nuri Sahin blocks the signing of Luka Modric

The transfer of Luka Modric to Real Madrid is cooled. Although the player already has an agreement with the white club, the next step is to reduce the 50 million euros that Tottenham is asking for the Croatian midfielder. In the negotiations was mentioned the possibility that Nuri Sahin's move to English team could serve to decrease the transfer price, but the Turkish player does not want to leave Madrid and has refused.

Luka Modric at Euro 2012

Without the input of players in the operation, Real Madrid thinks the price is out of market and Tottenham suspects that white club is looking for much cheaper alternatives. A couple of things play for Real Madrid: the agreement with Modric and the fact that the English club chairman, Daniel Levy, is unwilling to sell him to a Premier rival, Manchester United or Chelsea. Meanwhile, the player is considering making a formal request for transfer that would put more pressure on Levy. Manchester United has contacted with Porto to know its willingness to sell Moutinho, the Portuguese international player. The price is lower (34 million euros), the same age (Portuguese is 25, Croatian is 26) and the salary very uneven (Modric charges twice).

However, Alex Ferguson thinks about Modric as his number one target of the season and sees good news on Real Madrid problems. Chelsea is awaiting the movements of Ferguson and Mourinho, but last year when the London team made three offers rejected by the player, Abramovich promised Modric he was going to try again his transfer.

The other Real Madrid and Mourinho's option is David Silva, but they have found head-on with Manchester City's refusal to sell one of its stars. Daily Mirror newspaper reports that the Premiership champion playmaker has been priced at 99 million euros. This amount exceeds the 96 millions Real Madrid paid Manchester United in 2009 for signing Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains as the most expensive player in history.

The British press interprets this move as a strategy to deter Real Madrid of its intentions of signing Silva. The Spanish player is one of the most beloved players in the Etihad Stadium and the better valued by his peers. Not surprisingly, Silva was voted best player of the team in 2011-2012 season, according to a poll conducted among all members of the squad of Manchester City.