Andy Webster Already Impacting The Summer Market

By: chris | February 12th, 2008

A lot has been made of Frank Lampard and the dreaded contract buyout made even more dreaded by the Andy Webster ruling. However, it may be a future Chelsea player, and one of the continent’s greatest “prospects”, who has the first marked impact on the game regarding this rule. (I think he’s gone well beyond prospect but can’t usher him into overall greatness just yet.) There has been no shortage of rumors linking Chelsea to Luka Modric over the last 6-12 months, but the Webster ruling is now impacting how soon Dinamo Zagreb must consider selling him – Luka can buy out his contract for a paltry £1.5m less than a year from now despite being worth well more than ten times that figure.

There was some sort of big summit in London during the last week of 2007 where Zagreb’s vice-prez, Zdravko Mamic, met with the head honchos of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City (at least those are the ones known). Only nobody came away with a brand spankin’ new maestro. At the time, Mamic made a bold proclamation…..

“Modric is definitely staying another year,’ said Mamic. “We rejected offers from some of the top clubs in England and Spain of up to €50m [£35million].

“We want him to stay to maintain our chances in Europe.”

……which is likely a crock of shit. Did I mention Mamic is also Modric’s agent? (Don’t ask, sounds very Italian.) It was said they’d like to keep him for at least the next 18 months to make a solid run in Europe next season, but now it looks as though they’ll have no choice but to consider moving him in the summer. Luka also may be fiercely loyal – he signed a 10 year contract to skyrocket his pricetag last year – but I’m pretty sure Roman’s big bucks (or Arsenal’s, or Barca’s) will start to look pretty damn appetizing as opposed to the £1.5m he’ll earn over the remainder of his contract.

And of course, it’s never about what you know, it’s about who you know. Avram Grant has an old pal from Croatia currently “advising” Modric on his future professional plans, whatever that means. So the power lies in Luka’s hands as to how one of the biggest transfers of the summer will go down – or not go down. Power to the players.

Added bonus, highlight reel: