Luka Modric

Chelsea are ready to offer Yossi Benayoun to Tottenham as manager Andre Villas-Boas attempts to force through the transfer of Luka Modric.

Spurs have rejected bids of £22m and £27m for the Croatian midfielder and remain confident they can fight off Chelsea's interest and persuade Modric, 25, to stay for one more season at White Hart Lane.

However, Villas-Boas is prepared to offer Benayoun, 31, as part of a cash-plus-player deal as he launches a final bid to land the Tottenham midfielder before the end of the transfer window.

The Israeli captain moved to Stamford Bridge after leaving Liverpool last summer but failed to hold down a starting place in an injury-hit season.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy insists Modric is not for sale at any price, but the player himself has expressed a desire to join Chelsea and has been unsettled by his current employers' stance.

But Modric's Tottenham team-mate Rafael van der Vaart is convinced the 25-year-old will remain at White Hart Lane this summer.

"I'm really happy that he's going to stay because he's an important player for us," van der Vaart told Sky Sports News.

"Almost every day we ask him to stay and say, 'Have a great season - then you can go!'

"The chairman always said he's going to stay, no questions about it.

"I understand he was a little disappointed, but in a few weeks he's going to be happy again."

Meanwhile, Tottenham are prepared to scupper Chelsea's pursuit of striker Hulk, with Harry Redknapp ready to launch a £35m bid for the Brazil international.

Chelsea had an €80m bid for the Porto forward rejected earlier this summer and reports suggest talks have already taken place between Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and the player's representatives.

Hulk, 25, worked with Villas-Boas at Porto and the new Chelsea manager is likely to re-enter the bidding should Spurs submit a formal offer for the striker.

Finally, Barbara Berlusconi, daughter of Italy president Silvio and girlfriend of AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato, has refused to rule out the player's proposed move to Chelsea. She told Vanity Fair: "All the players in the squad are for sale at the right price, including Pato. He's no different to the others."