The pursuit of Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric is set drag into the new season.

Marca says Modric's Tottenham frustration is set to deepen with Real Madrid apparently admitting they expect Spurs to string this summer's big transfer saga out until the end of August.

Real are conceding they may not land Modric, who has indicated he will not join Tottenham's pre-season tour of the USA, until the final day of the window, August 31.

And they are frustrated as they believe they have twice done favours for the Premier League contenders in recent years - dramatically lashing their asking price for Rafa van der Vaart in 2010 and bowing out of the race for Emmanuel Adebayor last season.