On Wednesday Spurs’ new head coach, Andre Villas-Boas, confirmed that the club would listen to offers for Modric after he once again informed them he would like to leave. “The interest Luka is getting from a number of different clubs is the same as he got last year,” Villas-Boas said.

“Luka is a player of major importance for the football club and that is why he attracts so many clubs. At the moment, it’s in the hands of the chairman to accept the right proposition.

“Chelsea was involved last year so there is nothing new in the situation. If the player’s ambition is to move to another club, we can respect that decision, but there are club interests that the chairman will defend and I think only when the right offer is met, there will be more news.”

Villas-Boas, who coached Moutinho at Porto, added of the midfielder: “He was one of the most important players of Euro 2012, he had a fantastic tournament, and he’s an important player for Porto. It doesn’t mean that it’s the only target, but if something happened of course he’s the player we look on with interest.”

Moutinho has already expressed an interest in joining Villas-Boas at Spurs, who are waiting to hear whether Emmanuel Adebayor will join the club on a permanent basis. Spurs, who had the Togo international on loan last season, have made an offer to the striker, who is free to leave Manchester City, but nothing is agreed as yet.

“The squad has some fragilities, particularly on the striker position – we are looking for somebody else,” Villas-Boas said. “We are extremely willing to have Adebayor on board with us. It’s just a remote possibility at the moment.”

However Spurs have no interest in signing Daniel Sturridge, who is thought to be for sale at Chelsea. The club also intend to keep Rafael van der Vaart, despite interest from Bundesliga clubs, although that may change if a replacement is signed.

Spurs, who on Wednesday confirmed that former Germany international, and their former midfielder, Steffen Freund, would be Villas-Boas’s No 2, are also expected to make an announcement soon on the future of Ledley King, who is expected to retire from football.

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Real Madrid’s £40m offer for Luka Modric paves way for Joao Moutinho’s move to Tottenham Hotspur