Wenger reveals earlier interest in Modric

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that Arsenal followed Luka Modric long before he signed for rivals Tottenham in 2008.

However, no move was made for the Croatian playmaker, due to the emergence of Cesc Fabregas.

“We knew Modric before Tottenham knew him,” Wenger told reporters on Friday. “We played against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League [August 2006] and he played in the same team as Eduardo against us.

“At the time we had Fabregas, not a bad player. But we were interested in Modric.

“He is very mobile. I'm not surprised how well Modric has done, I knew he would do well.”

Modric came to Tottenham in a £16.5 million deal and has gone on to make 122 appearances for the Spurs. He will be a crucial figure in the upcoming North London Derby against Arsenal.