NEWCASTLE are close to signing
£12million-rated Croatian midfield star Luka
Modric.
Dinamo Zagreb vice-chairman Zdravko Mamic
jetted into Tyneside on Tuesday and met Toon officials in a hotel
to discuss the move. Modric, 22, has been targeted by a host of
European big guns with Chelsea and Arsenal among the favourites to
land him.
But Geordies executive director of football Dennis Wise
has won the battle. Modric will join after Euro 2008 and has even
hosted a farewell dinner party with Dinamo pals to toast the
transfer.
A source close to Modric said: “Mamic came back to
Croatia and insisted that Luca is close to moving to Newcastle. “He
always talked about Spain but Portsmouth’s Croatian star Niko
Kranjcar has told him to move to England. "The money Newcastle are
offering is fantastic.”
Meanwhile, Toon boss Kevin Keegan is set to offer
defender Steven Taylor, 22, a new deal.