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Luka Modric has been one of the key protagonists of the summer transfer window but speculation surrounding his future had gone a little quiet over the last week, something that Chelsea are ready to remedy with a fresh approach to sign him.

The Blues have already had two offers for the Croatian midfielder knocked back, the first thought to have fallen in the region of £22 million and the second £27 million, yet are determined not to take the hint and to instead attempt to force Tottenham's hand for a third time.

The 25-year-old playmaker's admission that he would like to move to Stamford Bridge appears to have given chief executive Ron Gourlay and co confidence that a deal can be completed, however Betfair punters aren't quite as convinced, pricing his chances of leaving at 2.14.

Andre Villas-Boas had been fairly coy when the subject of potential additions has been discussed, musing that they might not need to bring anyone new in, and it is easy to see how their pre-season form would cultivate such a view.

The west Londoners, who are second favourites at 3.85 to regain the Premier League, have played six friendlies and won every single one without conceding a single goal, scoring 15 of their own in the process.

Those matches, the latest a 2-0 win over Aston Villa to land the Barclays Asia Trophy, were billed as opportunities for the likes of Josh McEachran and Daniel Sturridge to stake their claims and they did so, but Modric and striker Romelu Lukaku could still arrive to push them down the pecking order.

The other big story to stem from their success in Hong Kong was that Fernando Torres got on the scoresheet with his first touch after coming on as a substitute. The Spaniard is 11.0 to bounce back from his slow start by being the division's top goalscorer this season.

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