8 Reasons the End of the Luka Modric Transfer Saga Will Be a Positive for Spurs

Although it’s been almost two weeks since Luka Modric completed his move to Real Madrid, the whole affair still has a sense of surrealism after such a drawn-out transfer.

The Croatian midfielder was being linked with a move away from White Hart Lane for well over a year before he finally departed, and for good reason.

Last season, Modric created the second-highest number of goal-scoring opportunities in the English top flight, beaten only by Euro 2012 and eventual Premier Lague winner David Silva (via WhoScored.com).

Of course, one would love to keep that kind of quality amongst one’s ranks, but the sale has a multitude of checks in the “plus column,” for which Tottenham can be pleased.

Modric has only played two matches for the Spanish League champions, but his former side have no need to linger in his wake and have plenty of reason to swiftly move on.

Financial Benefits

Perhaps the most pertinent benefit of selling any player of Modric’s pedigree is the significant sum that is sure to be attributed to the transfer.

For their former talisman, Tottenham received a reported fee of around £33m in cash while another £3m could be acquired depending on the player’s success at the Santiago Bernabéu (via HuffingtonPost.com).

Although the club had already made significant transfer moves before Modric, this sale justified the club's deadline-day spending.

Prior to August 31^st, Andre Villas Boas had already splashed around £37m on new talent, investing in the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jan Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele and Emmanuel Adebayor.

However, with the cash influx from the Modric deal, moves for Clint Dempsey and Hugo Lloris, totalling more than £20m, also became viable.

Considering Modric’s sale ultimately funded around two-thirds of Spurs’ purchases this summer, you can certainly see why it was a good idea to let the maestro go.

Four players are definitely better than one.

Excellent for Morale

By the end of the Modric saga, the playmaker had already failed to turn up for training on several occasions (via Guardian) and was very clear in his intentions to secure a move away from White Hart Lane.

It had become obvious that the player no longer wanted to be at Tottenham and that the manager was more than willing to sell, as long as his valuation was met.

This meant that as long as the Croatian remained at the club, he was a lingering presence who teammates knew had ulterior motives.

It can only be detrimental to train and play around such a player when you know that they may not be a teammate for much longer.

Not to jump to conclusions, but you wouldn’t blame any of Tottenham’s current playing staff for holding some negative sentiments toward Modric for the way he conducted himself during his final months at the club.

For the sake of repairing rifts that may have emerged within the Spurs' ranks, moving the player on became the best option for all involved, including the rest of the Tottenham squad.

Real Madrid Link

As part of Modric’s transfer, Tottenham ensured that they would reap future benefits for years to come.

Along with the £33m fee, the north London club sanctioned a deal with Real Madrid, effectively partnering the two clubs (via Telegraph).

This new bond means that Spurs will now receive first-refusal rights on a number of Real’s players if they are looking to sell and vice versa.

Regardless of how much talent there is at White Hart Lane, it would seem that Spurs come out of this agreement with more benefits given the amount of talent that’s produced by Los Merengues.

The likes of Javi Garcia, Roberto Soldado, Juan Mata, Daniel Parejo, Borja Valero and Alvaro Arbeloa were all produced in the Castilla, Real Madrid’s famous academy.

While they may not have succeeded amongst the Spanish giants’ senior side, these players have all had solid careers elsewhere. Tottenham would be fortunate to pick up some future gems.

Much Earned Respect

In football, certain teams gain reputations as “Selling Clubs,” and it usually correlates with their status being slightly lower in the sport’s food chain.

Unable to compete with the standard of competition or perhaps the wages being offered at some of the bigger clubs, these sides are regularly forced into selling what talismanic talent they may have, and it usually passes by without so much as a grumble.

This summer, Tottenham stood firm in their stance on the Modric transfer, coolly rebuffing Real’s advances on numerous occasions.

The Premier League side will undoubtedly have frustrated their Spanish counterparts to no end, but will have also acquired quite a bit of respect in the process.

In the end, Spurs gave off an impression of “You can have him, but only for this much,” and seem to have gotten their man.

While Real Madrid may have acquired the player, Tottenham went toe to toe with one of the world’s richest and most powerful clubs and, in their own way, won.

Opportunities for Others

Luka Modric is a worldly talent. There’s no denying it. After all, a club like Real Madrid don’t flippantly shell out £30m on a player unless he’s proven his quality.

However, with such an automatic starter now gone from Tottenham’s roster, the club can hand out chances to other hopefuls looking to fill the shoes of, or even surpass Modric.

The former Spur was a versatile talent when it came to the middle of the park, able to play as a deep-lying playmaker or function further forward, sitting behind the strikers.

Villas Boas has considerable talent at his disposal in these areas, and with Modric (and Rafael van der Vaart) now gone, it could be time for Sigurdsson, Dembélé and Livermore to succeed.

What’s more, Tom Huddlestone is once again in the reckoning following a long layoff with injury, while Sandro and Iago Falqué may also look to pounce on the new opening in midfield.

Weight off the Club's Shoulders

After getting their 2012-13 Premier League campaign off to a rocky start, the end of Modric’s White Hart Lane tenure is just one less thing for the club to contend with.

Had the midfielder stuck around until the next transfer window, the team would have to put up with the gloom that comes with a player who doesn’t want to play.

Now that the transfer is signed and sealed, it’s time for the club to forget about what was and think about what’s to come.

Levy Maintains Business Efficiency

A controversial figure amongst his own club’s fans, Daniel Levy is nothing if not a shrewd businessman.

Many a Tottenham supporter have criticized the Tottenham chairman for being too stingy in his dealings and refusing to “grab the cash and run” on occasion, with the Modric transfer being a key example.

However, having a chairman who is willing to hold out for these kinds of deals is massively beneficial in today’s game, and there’s no doubt that a host of Spurs’ current playing staff may not be at the club were it not for Levy.

If Spurs are to eventually become one of football’s big dogs, having a figure like Levy at the club will in no way inhibit that goal.

With that in mind, Modric’s sale is evidence that the 50-year-old still has every bit of business acumen he came into the club with, and bodes well for the club’s future.

A New Era

It’s no question that Andre Villas Boas hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts as Tottenham manager. The Portuguese boss has accrued just two points from three games and is yet to bag his first league win.

However, while Modric may have moved on, the club were very busy this summer and it will take a while for these new faces to settle in.

As was mentioned in a previous slide, Modric’s sale paid for roughly two-thirds of Tottenham’s outgoings this summer and being economically responsible is as vital as ever with Financial Fair Play not far away.

In summary, a new manager, a new team and a new era for Tottenham Hotspur may just be on the horizon.

Not all great things get off to the best of starts, but the potential is certainly there for Tottenham to recover and bounce back from their early season blues, enacting a fresh start at White Hart Lane.