Real agree $57 million deal with Spurs for Modric

BEIRUT: Real Madrid are believed to have agreed a 36-million-pound ($56.69 million) fee with Tottenham for Croatian midfielder Luka Modric.

Modric has already revealed a desire to join the Spanish champions and has just been waiting for the two sides to agree on a price.

The playmaker was fined two weeks wages last week after refusing to train with the squad, a move seen by Spurs as an attempt to push through a transfer to Madrid.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has reportedly been adamant that the club would not be bullied into selling their star player cheaply and until now had refused to budge from the 40-million-pounds asking price.

The Sun newspaper reports that Madrid were reluctant to offer the full amount for the player but Real boss Jose Mourinho’s determination to land the 26-year-old has seen both clubs reach a compromise.

The move is expected to be formally completed within the coming days and brings an end to speculation surrounding Modric’s future.

The player has been tracked by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and came close to joining Champions League winners Chelsea last summer before the club brought in Spanish midfielder Juan Mata.

United are encouraging Galatasaray’s interest in striker Dimitar Berbatov, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the Turkish side are considering whether to bid for the Bulgarian international.

Berbatov remains the Old Trafford side’s record signing, having cost 30.75-million pounds when they bought him from Tottenham.

The Bulgarian was told earlier in the summer that he is not in Ferguson’s plans for the upcoming season, with United looking to Arsenal’s Robin van Persie as his replacement.

The 31-year-old has one more year remaining on his contract, but United are understood to be willing to let him leave should an offer of 5-million pounds be made.

Van Persie is said to be demanding parity with Wayne Rooney should he sign for United, demanding wages worth around 220,000 pounds a week.

The Daily Express paper writes that Old Trafford is the Dutchman’s preferred destination should he be unable to secure a switch to Italian champions Juventus.

The forward has just 12 months remaining on his current deal with the Gunners, and turned down an offer of 130,000 pounds a week to remain in north London.

United’s fierce local rivals Manchester City remain keen on the 28-year-old but manager Roberto Mancini has voiced his frustration at the club’s apparent unwillingness to move for the player.

City’s owners insist that the futures of strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz must be sorted before Mancini can make a move for the Arsenal captain.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expects the club to complete the signing of Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla by Tuesday, with the club making an official bid for the Spaniard Saturday.

Malaga are holding out for 20-million pounds but the Gunners are hoping to do business for 15-million pounds.

Wenger was beaten to the signature of Cazorla by Malaga last summer but the Spanish club’s precarious financial situation means that player departures are expected.

The Daily Mail reports that Arsenal have so far been frustrated by their dealings with the club but add that Malaga sent negotiators to London Saturday to open discussions over a deal.

Fulham are lining up a bid for Arsenal’s Russian international Andrey Arshavin, after the midfielder revealed a preference to remain in England should he leave the club.

The 31-year-old is not in Wenger’s plans for next season and had been widely anticipated to rejoin Zenit St. Petersburg after having spent the second half of last season on loan at the Russian club.

Fulham manager Martin Jol is looking to speak with Arsenal and Arshavin this week, with the Gunners likely to accept offers in the region of 1-million pounds.

Newcastle will only move for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll should Demba Ba leave the Tyneside club in the next 48 hours.

Ba has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave St. James’ Park for just 7-million pounds but this expires Tuesday.

Newcastle are reportedly still in the dark about Ba’s plans, with club insiders telling The Daily Mirror that the club is growing anxious over the player’s future.

“All our plans are up in the air until we find out Tuesday what Ba is doing,” the source said.

“If Ba walks Tuesday, it will change the Carroll situation.”

“We understand his people have talked to Rubin Kazan and Galatasaray but we have not received any offers from any of the top clubs in Europe.

“This is exactly what happened with Jose Enrique 12 months ago, when he and his people kept us waiting until he moved to Liverpool right at the death on transfer-deadline day. We don’t want a repeat of that.”