Luka Modric will stay at Tottenham says Robbie Keane

Last updated : 10 August 2011 By Daily Mail

The Republic of Ireland captain will move to his ninth club and leave north London for the third time. And the 31-year-old says he is looking to end his league career at a Barclays Premier League club.

Keane, who will lead Ireland against Croatia in Dublin, said: 'There are a couple of weeks left in the transfer window and it is likely I will be going but at the moment I don't have the answer as to where.

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'I haven't turned down anything, a few people are talking to the club but that is really all I can say. I am sure it will be sorted in the next couple of weeks.

'And I would move anywhere. I don't know where this story comes that I want to stay in London I have never said that. I am quite happy to go anywhere to play regular football.

'I have had it for the last 12 years, every summer there is speculation, so I am not really too bothered about it. There has been a lot of speculation but at the moment it is still quiet and we will see what happens.

'The club has to agree a fee and I am not being disrespectful to the Championship teams but if I have got the option of a Premier League club I am obviously going to take that. There has been no talk from a Championship team so that is where we stand at the moment.'

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Keane comes face-to-face with Modric and Spurs team-mates Niko Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka.

Although Keane may have conceded his Spurs days are numbered, the striker believes Chelsea target Modric will not make the move across London.

Keane said: 'It is looking very likely he will start the season at Spurs and they are desperate to keep hold of him. And rightly so because he is a great player.

'I can understand the interest but I would expect him to start the season at Spurs. He keeps them ticking over by getting ball off centre halves and acting as the link man between the midfield and the strikers. He has been instrumental at Spurs over the last couple of years.

'Everyone has seen since he came to the Premier League how good a player he is. Last year he seemed to be getting better and better and he is a great lad to have around the place and he has evolved at Tottenham.

'There has been a lot of interest from various clubs but then he is a fantastic player and technically very good.'

Keane, who will win his 109th cap against Croatia and is looking to add to his 51 international goals, has not ruled out leading Ireland in the World Cup 2014 campaign.

Ireland were drawn with Germany, Sweden, Austria, the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan and the Irish skipper is optimistic about their chances of qualifying for the finals in Brazil.

Making his point: Keane will lead the Republic of Ireland against Croatia

He said: 'I just take each game as it comes and as long as I am still fit and I have no injuries I will carry on playing.

'There are no easy draws any more so the days of getting drawn against San Marino and teams like that and thinking it is an easy draw isn't the case any more.

'Germany are still strong and Sweden would be the obvious others to stand out but if you look at our team and our progression we are getting better and better in each game and I am sure they would be fearful of us.

'I watched the Italy game and you can see the progress with the younger lads coming through. A lot of senior players missed that game and the younger lads did an exceptional job. They seem to be getting better with every trip which stands us in good stead.'

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Source: Daily Mail

Source: Daily Mail