Modric wants to leave Tottenham

London: Luka Modric has admitted he wishes to leave Tottenham, and has hinted at the possibility of joining Chelsea this summer.

The Croatian, who has been at White Hart Lane since 2008, was the subject of a £22million bid from the west London club on Wednesday, which was subsequently branded ‘ridiculous’ by manager Harry Redknapp.

The midfielder has also been coveted by Manchester United but insists he will not hand in a transfer request to Spurs as he wishes to depart on good terms.

"I want to leave Tottenham as friends. I have enjoyed my time there, but now it is right for me to look at another club," Modric told the Daily Mail.

"I need to talk with the chairman. I won't ask for a transfer, no. That would be disrespectful. I don't want to have an argument with Tottenham.

"I have an arrangement with the chairman. When I signed my new contract, he said that, if another club came to sign me, they would consider the offer.

"If somebody comes to the club and the offer is good for me and acceptable to them, then I want to leave."

Modric concedes a stay in London is preferable and hints a move to Chelsea would fulfill his trophy-winning ambitions.

"I want to stay in London. I am very happy here and so are my family. I like the city," said Modric.

"Chelsea are a big club with an ambitious owner. They have great players and they have ambitions to fight for the title and win the Champions League.

"I hope they [Tottenham] can reach an agreement [with another club] that is satisfactory for everyone. I am on holiday, but I need to speak and to see if I can find a solution to this.

"It has to be good for my ambition. It has to be a club who are winning titles and playing in the Champions League.

"This is not about money, it is about ambition. When I came to England, I was dreaming about winning titles. That is still the same."

Modric praised the support he has received from the club's fans, but the 25-year-old admits he wants to challenge for silverware elsewhere.

"The supporters have been very good to me and I have enjoyed my time playing for the club, but it is for football that players leave clubs and move," he said.

"It has happened to Tottenham before. It is normal for a player to dream about playing for a bigger club.

"Tottenham are a big club, with good players and a good manager, but I want to fight for the championship. Spurs will always have a place in my heart. My experiences in the Champions League have left me with the desire for more."