Tottenham want to bring Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric back to White Hart Lane. The Mirror says Spurs want Modric back from Real Madrid AND a world-record transfer fee to part with Gareth Bale.

Spurs are interested in taking the Croatian back to north London on top of whatever cash figure - which will be above the £80m Real paid Man United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 - is agreed between the clubs.

The hard-line stance initially adopted by the White Hart Lane club's chairman, Daniel Levy, over Bale is softening as the price Real are willing to pay escalates beyond all expectations.

So far, left-back Fabio Coentrao and winger Angel Di Maria are the players Real have been prepared to offer up in addition to stacks of cash.

But Di Maria does not want to go to the Londoners, and now Modric has emerged as a surprise target.