Modric may be available: Move heaven and earth to get him

Luka Modric is without a doubt one of the best players to dictate play. He demonstrated at the WC why he is one, if not, the best midfielder in the world.

As if it wasn’t obvious enough with Los Merengues, he has proved that once again with his national football team. Alongside Ivan Rakitić, he has a huge importance in Croatia’s offensive animation.

Firstly, we need to highlight the fact that he plays a lot in the half-spaces. This shows his creative-midfielder profile as the half-spaces are spaces frequently used to unlock openings and break the opponent’s block. Indeed, even against a low block, it is difficult to defend half-spaces. Why ? Because teams commonly defend the middle and the wings and cannot also defend these areas (at least not as they should). Modríc therefore takes advantage of that to link-up play and dictate the tempo of the match.

From there, Luka offers himself various options that often lead to linking-up play and unlocking spaces in offense, such as :

– one-two passes with a partner

– quick through-passes in behind opponent’s defence

– passing lanes with shape of triangles to circulate the ball near the final third

A typical demonstration of his creativity with a one-two pass between Modric and Rebic. The midfielder’s dynamic pace in half-spaces pulls out the full back and frees rebic on the right wing. The free player then has the time and space to cross inside the box for either Mandzukic or Perisic. Quite simple, but productive.

His partnership with the Barcelona’s midfielder Ivan Rakitic increases the creativity in Croatia’s offensive transitions. With Modric’s dynamic running to free spaces added to his partner’s superb passing, opening exploitable spaces is not a difficult job for the duo.

However, there’s no doubt that Modric is better as a number10 midfielder than a defensive one alongside Rakitic. Bringing him in a deep position causes him to stay there and to not penetrate the opponent’s final third. And this consequence is extended to the whole squad that therefore struggles in creating danger near the penalty area.

Zlatko Dalic managed to find a midfielder capable to cover his partners (Brozovic) and that changed everything in the team’s offensive set-up. With Luka playing forward, offense is much more threatening and attacking efficiency as With Luka playing forward, offense is much more threatening and attacking efficiency as well.

We were waiting for Messi or Ronaldo to light up the tournament , but we ended up with Modric as the man of the tournament. His natural creativity and multiple abilities speak for him : he’s logically a player we have to count on in big tournaments such as the World Cup.
 
Why can't we create our own Modric instead?
Fred, Pereira and Pogba have the ability to grow to become the legend Modric has become.
 
Fortitude said:
I think it would be a massive oversight, but I guess continuing a back and forth over something that's clearly not going to happen is pointless.
Click to expand...

To not go around in circles since it will never happen, the future will answer this debate anyway. I can see him having one more year on the highest level and than moving a bit deeper where he won't be so influential or one of the best in the world. You can't beat your age, no matter how good you are.
 
Madrid will only sell if he wants to leave and they get a top replacement, Savic would be my guess. Savic to Madrid and Modric to Inter would make sense. But Lazio want a lot of money and it is still unclear if Modric really wants to leave for a new challenge or only a payrise.
 
Apparently Madrid are quite surprised and annoyed with the Modric agents, as they had intended to improve the contract but they did not contact before going to sell the idea to Inter.
I say this in the event that apart from a new challenge he is simply looking for a contract improvement, which would be understandable, especially when Benzema earns more.
In case he wants to leave, I read that could be 65 million, but let's see what we do with 65 million. Nowadays with that we can buy a leg of an elite midfielder.
 
I have the feeling that something is happening. Even Spalletti spoke about it.
 
Bestietom said:
I think we will be Ok in midfield after adding Fred and Pereira to Pogba, Matic, Herrera, McTominay, and Fellaini.

What we need most is a Full Back and a top Right Winger. Sandro and Willian would be nice. But most on here want a CB more than a Full back.
Click to expand...

I think a CB would make an immediate improvement with no team disruption beyond what should happen anyway.

A FB has the problem of both causing a blocker to two experienced influential players in Young and Valencia who yes are very much in their last innings, but still offer something, albeit with need to ultimately be replaced, its just a timing thing. They are too old to be sold, unlike other CBs we have.

This mixed in with Shaw is very much last chance saloon. If he can finally prove his worth he is a £25m talent who in todays price would be £50-75 in terms of the level of potential and hype when he was purchased. If he doesn't make it this season he potentially leaves for free. Bottom line either we sold him last summer/ Jan or we have to make it work this time round and give it a good chance to. Jan is still a viable sale window if he can't make it work by then.

Dalot is the newest freshest talent. At 19 it wouldn't be wholy damaging to bring in a 29+ year old right back and expect Dalot to make it in a few years, but then we'd still need to do something with Valencia.

My guess is the RB/ LB is definitely on the cards for next summer, unless of course Young and Valencia continue to keep on running then maybe its one mire year.

In the mean time Dalot/ Shaw should be showing if they are the future or not.

The RW has some similar challenges, not because we have someone there, but we have 3 players who need to be getting regular games on the LW so we really need one or two of them to become flexible and solve the issue, or we need to bite the bullet and lose one.

To some extent if Sanchez doesn't start shining he might need to be the one to go. Would still have some resale value and has the least long term application.

Sanchez was partly brought in to solve the Mhki issue and by doing so we created a new problem, but one who is more marketable and easier to sell with greater value. He also is the type that could be a world class catalyst for fairly instant success. It wasn't a signing we needed, but one that made sense.

Sanchez also shows Martial and Rashford what they need to do to be United players long term and bottom line they either fit in or f off.

So yeah I agree those positions need attention, but timing is crucial. CB is an obvious, easy and logical place to improve with limited upgrade costs if we can sell and buy for the right price.
 
I refused to believe in it but something is happening there. I still think that it will end with new contract but if there is any chance, we should try. Modric is the best playmaker in the world. I don't care if he is 33. Buy him and sell herrera. Pogba and modric together would be fantastic.
 
A Brozovic, Naingollan, Modric midfield would be scary.
 
Andycoleno9 said:
What to you think about that? He just wants new contract and using inter or it can happen?
Click to expand...
Yes, I think it can happen mainly because it seems he wants to leave or wouldnt mind.
I do not know the reasons but I imagine it will be both sporting and economic.
In Madrid he has won 4 Champions. Everything that happens from now on will be worse. His professional consideration is at the top. Realistically he can play four years at Inter with a very good salary(and I doubt that Madrid are willing to match)while in Madrid it is very difficult to retire, although it is always said in interviews.
Or maybe he just wants a contract improvement. In that case, I think his agent could have acted differently.
The problem is that apparently Kovacic has started a rebellion, which would mean losing two in midfield.
 
I think Kovacic leaving will make it impossible for Madrid to even consider letting Modric leave too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.