Chelsea Transfer Rumours: Chelsea Offer Benayoun to Spurs to Seal Modric Deal

Chelsea's pursuit of Luka Modric seems to be gaining momentum as the summer transfer window enters its last month.

Chelsea are prepared to use Yossi Benayoun as bait in their attempt to prise Luka Modric from Tottenham, according to DailyMail.co.uk.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has long been an admirer of Benayoun and showed interest in the creative midfielder when he left Liverpool last year.

The Israel captain moved to Stamford Bridge instead, but failed to make an impression in a season wrecked by a heel injury.

He has been bright during preseason, but it is indicative of Chelsea’s desire to land Modric that Andre Villas-Boas is prepared to sacrifice Benayoun.

Benayoun is 31 years old and has two years left on the deal he signed when moving from Anfield for a £5.5 million last summer.

He has barely played for the Blues, having ruptured an Achilles tendon in September, from which he spent seven months recuperating, an absence which limited him to only one start in the Premier League under Carlo Ancelotti.

Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovic, made a £22 million bid for Modric last month, fueling speculation over the Croation midfielder's future at White Hart Lane.

Another bid of £27 million got rejected recently, with Harry Redknapp stating that even a bid over £30 million may not tempt the Spurs to sell the midfielder.

Redknapp’s midfield options have already been depleted by injuries, and he learned that Steven Pienaar will miss the first six weeks of the season after groin surgery. Sandro is out with a knee injury sustained training with Brazil at the Copa America last month. 

Will a deal involving cash plus Benayoun for Luka Modric may attract Harry Redknapp?