Spurs revolt opens door for Man Utd's Bale raid

Croatian midfielder Luka Modric has sealed a move to Real Madrid. (FILE)

Published Monday, June 18, 2012

By Staff

Spurs are bracing for an exodus of star players after the shock sacking of manager Harry Redknapp.

Many Tottenham players are even unhappier that Chelsea discard Andre Villas-Boas has emerged as the front-runner for the job.

Villas-Boas has already held productive talks with the North London club to replace Redknapp, The Sun reported in an exclusive.

But some senior Spurs stars have spoken to Chelsea players who claimed Villas-Boas was a nightmare to work with and told them to steer well clear of the Portuguese coach, it said.

Chairman Daniel Levy thus faces the prospect of making an appointment that might tear the dressing room apart at White Hart Lane.

Levy could refuse to bow down to player power after having showed no mercy in sacking Redknapp despite leading Spurs to a fourth-place finish last term.

But he could little to prevent players such Gareth Bale and Luka Modric looking for an exit this summer.

The situation provides a final opportunity for Sir Alex Ferguson to go for the jugular in his bid to help Manchester United regain the title.

Modric is also a target of newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City who are keen to strengthen their strikeforce by signing the 26-year-old Croatian and Arsenal's Robin van Persie.

United would have to ward off interest from Real Madrid and Chelsea who were willing to offer £40 million last term.

Modric is set to make another transfer request after next month European Championships.

United could also pounce on Gareth Bale who had warned Tottenham that he will have to consider his future if the north London club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Welsh winger Bale is desperate to get back into Europe's elite club competition after impressing during Tottenham's run to the quarter-finals last season.

Bale is high on Barcelona's wanted list.

"I had a taste of it last season and I enjoyed it thoroughly," Bale told BBC's Football Focus earlier.

"I think everybody always wants to test themselves against the best players in the world."

MUST READ:

Walcott out for England... and Arsenal