Chelsea Transfer News: 5 Reasons Spurs' Luka Modric Is Perfect for the Blues

The transfer window opened with a shocking revelation from Luka Modric that he desired a move away from Tottenham Hotspur. The diminutive Croatian spoke candidly to the English press before his vacation. He expressed his admiration for Chelsea and his intention to play for the Blues in preference to other likely suitors.

Initially it was thought that Manchester United would lead the chase for the Spurs maestro before it was revealed that Manchester City would be willing to outbid its rivals for Modric's signature.

It now appears that Modric only has the intention of moving across London to Chelsea. The motivations for craving a transfer would seem to be the fact that Spurs cannot guarantee Champions League football at the very least. Modric also stated in the interview that the lure of Chelsea regularly challenging for trophies influenced his lust to join the Blues.

The former Dinamo Zagreb playmaker sacrificed his yearly participation in UEFA's showcase competition for a £16.5 million ($26.5 million) transfer to Spurs. The North London club participated in the Champions League last season, impressing many with its cavalier style before being humbled at the hands of Real Madrid.

There is no doubt that Modric has adapted remarkably well to the Premier League and become one of the best players in the league in his three years in England. It seems naive to think that he might look to be part of a long-term project that Spurs seem to be building with plenty of young talented players.

The truth is that the player realizes his outrageous ability is now good enough to compete against the very best in Europe, and he feels that he deserves to be challenging for honors that have eluded him since his arrival in England.

Despite a vociferous message from Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy that Modric or any other of its top players are not for sale, the club has a history of selling its prized assets, as was the case with Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and even Michael Carrick.

Whether Spurs will relax its strong stance on Modric's availability or not, the fact remains the Croatian would be the perfect fit to improve Chelsea and its chances of winning silverware again next season. Here are the reasons.

Follow @jackalexandros on Twitter  

Passing, Creativity, Maintaining Possession & a Touch of Barcelona's Tiki-Taka

Luka Modric is undoubtedly among the best passing midfielders in the Premier League.

In fact, he completed the fourth-most successful passes last season with 1,717. Only Michael Essien, Danny Murphy and Barry Ferguson completed more, and it would be fair to say that Modric attempts more ambitious, attacking passes than all of them.

Chelsea lacked the ability to maintain possession against the very best opposition last season. Conceding the majority of play in both games against Manchester United in the quarterfinal of the Champions League.

Chelsea often started games very slowly, evidence of this was 12 goals conceded in the first 20 minutes of Premier League games this season which often derailed Chelsea's tactics as sides found great joy in defending leads as the Blues struggled to unlock defenses.

Modric is a calm operator in possession and instantly improves Chelsea's ability to impose itself on its opponents immediately as the Croatian rarely hides under pressure and can often be seen to demand the ball in the tightest of spaces despite considerable pressure from opponents pressing high up the pitch.

Chelsea has not had a player who is comfortable enough in possession to initiate each attack since Claude Makelele left. Whilst Modric is not as defensive as the Frenchman, he can often operate in similar positions when his side is in possession by demanding the ball and establishing the pattern of play.

In this sense, Modric would be able to dictate the tempo of play. And unlike the deep-lying midfielders that have operated for Chelsea in the past few seasons, Michael Essien or John Obi Mikel, Modric has a wider range of passing meaning Chelsea would be able to draw opponents on to them with neat passages of possession before suddenly springing an attack in to the space behind with players such as Fernando Torres or Daniel Sturridge, who possess raw pace.

With a distinct lack of creativity in the squad, Modric would add creativity and the ability to punish opponents for defending too deeply as the Croatian is able to make quick incisive passes around the penalty area. 

Chelsea, Villas Boas' 4-3-3 Formation Suits Modric Perfectly

Andre Villas Boas is likely to implement his favoured formation, the 4-3-3, which is convenient considering Chelsea has operated a similar formation for numerous years.

Modric would fit in to this formation as the middle man in the midfield three. By operating in between a holding midfielder such as Michael Essien and looking to set Frank Lampard free ahead of him as he looks to join up with the attack.

Unlike the majority of his time at Spurs, Modric would have at least two options that would be open to a short pass when he gains possession. Often a problem for Chelsea last season was the lack of zip to its passing game as the Blues lacked that incisiveness to put teams on the back foot.

Spurs has tended to use a 4-4-2 formation since Modric joined the club. It has even changed to a 4-5-1 with a lone striker at times during last season, but Spurs still lack a third central midfielder for the majority of the game as Rafael Van Der Vaart tends to play closer to the lone striker.

Modric's movement is brilliant, which we will cover next, so when Chelsea claim possession he can use both central midfielders as pivots to initiate each attack for the Blues. The midfield at present for Chelsea lacks lateral movement as Essien, Lampard and Ramires all tend to want to drive straight towards goal. Modric could provide more dimensions to Chelsea's passing game which would allow the Blues to create more space and opportunities.

Modric is intelligent in the way he positions himself and would therefore complement Chelsea's formation perfectly as he is constantly on the move to drag the opposition out of position. This would particularly aid Chelsea, who is more used to being obliged to break down deep-lying defenses than Spurs.

Chelsea can be more patient in possession with Modric's busier movement and open teams up by exposing space created by moving the opposition as opposed to a direct ball from deep to Didier Drogba.

Whether it be in patient patterns of build-up play or frantic counter attacks, Modric is capable of releasing Chelsea's current midfielders to greater effect. In summary, Modric can be the missing link in this proven 4-3-3 formation to help gel the side together.

Age, Athleticism, Pace & Versatility

Modric is just 25 and has many years ahead of him to fulfill his potential. He is of the age that can mean he will revitalize this Chelsea side and be part of the new Villas-Boas project for several years to come.

Not only this, but Modric is deceptively quick, especially over the first five yards, the most important in football. The Croatian has the great ability to wriggle free of tight markers by expertly dropping a shoulder.

Modric, whilst predominantly blessed with attacking qualities, is an underrated defender and can often be seen to track back and close off areas to stagnate the opposition's counter attack.

He has great stamina to be able to constantly offer himself to teammates as well as being tactically astute. He rarely vacates his position when teammates are not able to adequately cover for him.

Modric is a central midfielder but has often been deployed as a left winger with a license to roam infield on to his favoured right foot. His athleticism and pace can really inject a sense of urgency in to Chelsea's attacks that has been missing for several years now.

Hunger To Win Premier League, Champions League & Relish the Big Matches

Modric showed in his statement in June that he is not just chasing a higher salary as by declaring his desire to join the Blues, he has ignored the temptation to join Manchester City who would obviously be able to meet any demands Modric would make. Not that a Chelsea wage will be too meager, but Modric is obviously thinking of winning trophies in the immediate future.

The timing of the statement is key here, as it sends a message that he is desperate to move now rather than see if Spurs might potentially be competing for major honors in several years time.

By signing Modric, Chelsea can expect a highly motivated player who is more desperate to win than the majority of the current squad whose ambitions will surely have deteriorated slightly after several years of success.

Chelsea need players who are hungry to win for the first time and desperate to win now like the majority of the squad that Jose Mourinho inherited.

By demanding a move now, it also shows Modric craves to perform on the big stage, and that after partaking in many high profile matches with Spurs against Europe's most illustrious clubs, he is not prepared to wait even one year to experience it again. 

A Risk-Free, World Class Footballer with a Great Attitude

Modric is something of a rarity in modern day football. Should Chelsea sign him, it would know exactly what it would be getting for its money, and there would be only a nominal risk involved. Modric might be the best transfer this summer in terms of instantly improving a side without risk of failure. Modric speaks English, knows the league and would suit Chelsea's style and tactics.

Modric has performed superbly for Spurs despite many doubts upon his arrival at White Hart Lane. Firstly, people questioned the high price tag for a player who had only ever played in the Croatian league. Then came the doubts about whether he could adjust to the league he was joining due to his small 1.73 meter frame.

After proving he could hack it in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League, initially as a left-sided midfielder, the next challenge was to adapt to his preferred central role. In such a physical league it is rare to see players of Modric's size succeed in that position, but beyond all logic, the Croatian flourished in to one of the best players in the league.

Reward for his improvement was being voted Tottenham Hotspur's players of the season 2010-11. Even doubts about the next level up from the Premier League have been banished in recent times.

Modric is a seasoned professional now who has won 44 caps for Croatia and was voted in the team of the tournament for Euro 2008. Modric also flourished in the Champions League as he played an integral part in Spurs reaching the quarterfinals in its debut season in the competition.

Aside from his passing forte and terrific energy, Modric is a well-rounded player who can play anywhere in midfield due to a seemingly ambidextrous ability to pass and shoot to phenomenal effect with either foot.

Modric, the person, has proven to be a manager's dream who is prepared to work hard and play out of position to satisfy the team. The Croatian has never been outspoken or demanded extra money as he earns £45,000 per week, a wage that is significantly lower than his peers.

Modric should be Chelsea's priority even though Levy is adamant the Croatian is not for sale. Money often talks in this sport and the Blues will explore all possibilities to make Modric the center piece in its new era under Villas Boas. Expect Chelsea to return with an improved bid later this summer, initially bidding just £22 million, Chelsea may be encouraged after Modric makes clear his desire to leave when he meets with Levy this week.

Follow @jackalexandros on Twitter