Spurs land Modric
Tottenham have won the race to sign highly-rated Croatia midfielder Luka Modric for a fee believed to be £15.8million.
The Barclays Premier League club have agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old, who was reportedly courted by many of Europe's top sides, and he will leave Dinamo Zagreb for White Hart Lane this summer subject to his passing a medical.
Modric must also obtain a work permit but that will be a formality given his status as one of the continent's most coveted talents.
After making his name in the Bosnian league as a teenager, Modric moved to Croatian club Inter Zapresic before joining Dinamo in 2005.
He made his debut for Croatia a year later and has gone on to win more than 20 caps for Slaven Bilic's side - including the home and away victories over England that cost the Three Lions their place at Euro 2008.
His silky, two-footed passing caught the eye in both the England clashes and reports linked him with possible transfers to the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and, most recently, Newcastle.
On Tuesday, Modric was reported to have been on Tyneside to discuss a move to St James' Park and visit the club's training ground.
And Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan, speaking this week, made no secret of his admiration for a playmaker who was also thought to have been a target of Barcelona.
"If you look at the midfield players who have a fantastic future, he would be one of them. But every other club in the league, from Arsenal and Manchester United, would like Modric," said Keegan.
