Tottenham legend Steve Archibald can't believe the mess of Luka Modric's proposed move to Real Madrid.

Archibald is amazed it has reached such a stalemate - and argues a simple buy-out clause in Modric's contract would have ­prevented the problem.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: "When a ­player gets it into his head he wants to go, everybody knows he's going to leave sooner or later.

"This is something Spurs should have looked at a bit closer when he first signed for them - and made provisions for it.

"It's a lesson for all English clubs that when they sign a player, who costs a lot of money and who they may want to sell for big ­money in a few years, there must be a buy-out clause attached to his contract.

"In Modric's case, it seems Tottenham will let him go - but it all ­depends on the money they ­receive.

"But if there was a buy-out clause that was acceptable to Spurs, this stand-off would not be ­happening.

"That's what they do in Spain all the time. The buy-out figure is ­always exaggerated too, so the selling club are happy, and this runs right throughout a player's contract."