da bet nacional： Yossi Benayoun could be used as bait in Chelsea’s attempts to sign Luka Modric the Daily Mail understands.
da bet7： The Stamford Bridge club are still in the hunt for the Croatian midfield despite Tottenham insisting they aren’t selling.
A new bid of £30 million was rumoured this week but now it seems that Benayoun could be used as a makeweight.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is a huge admirer of the Israel captain and tried to snatch him from under the nose of Chelsea after he left Liverpool last summer.
It was a season to forget for the 31-year-old creative midfielder as he ruptured his Achilles tendon and spent seven months on the sidelines.
Despite his bright pre-season performances and ability to link up with former Liverpool room mate Fernando Torres, new boss Andre Villas-Boas is prepared to sacrifice him to snare Modric.
The Portuguese coach has already stressed the importance of players who can add a fluidity and unpredictability to Chelsea’s stiff system with both Benayoun and Modric fitting that profile.
However Villas-Boas sees Modric as the one who is more adept at playing ‘between the lines’ and is prepared to tempt Spurs with the prospect of a cash-plus-player offer.
A move to White Hart Lane is likely to appeal to Benayoun who will struggle to break into the Chelsea midfield next season and Redknapp could be persuaded to take him and let the unhappy Modric leave.