Luka Modric
Tottenham's Luka Modric Reuters

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini's interest in Croatian Midfielder Luka Modrić has set off a red alert at the Spurs camp, who had managed to hold on to Modrić despite several bids by Chelsea last summer, according to a Daily Mail report.

Mancini, who already has a star-studded side with players including Samir Nasri, David Silva, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, recently praised the 26-year-old midfielder during his "pilgrimage" trip to Bosnia.

"Luka Modric is an outstanding footballer, a great player. He is definitely one of the best in the Premier League," ESPN quoted Mancini as saying.

However, the Italian boss feels that the Spurs, who had rejected a £40 million bid for the talented Croatian last summer, will not let him go easily.

"But it is by no means easy to get him because he plays for a big club, Tottenham. It is unlikely that they would let him leave," he added.

Mancini believes that he is lucky to have Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko (who is probably leaving City this summer) because, according to him, players from Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia are very talented.

"We are lucky to have another great player from these parts in Edin Dzeko. I have worked with quite a few players from these parts - not just Croatians, but Bosnians, Serbs and Montenegrins.I have many friends among them and I am very proud of it.They are really something special and they mostly play with invention and creativity," Mancini added.