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Tottenham want Luka Modric back from Real Madrid AND a world-record transfer fee to part with Gareth Bale.

Manchester United have targeted midfielder Modric as their fall-back option, with their bid to buy Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas fading.

But we understand Spurs are interested in taking the Croatian back to north London on top of whatever cash figure - which will be above the £80m Real paid Man United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 - is agreed between the clubs.

The hard-line stance initially adopted by the White Hart Lane club's chairman, Daniel Levy, over Bale is softening as the price Real are willing to pay escalates beyond all expectations.

So far, left-back Fabio Coentrao and winger Angel Di Maria are the players Real have been prepared to offer up in addition to stacks of cash.

But Di Maria does not want to go to the Londoners, and now Modric has emerged as a surprise target.

The 27-year-old defected to Real in acrimonious circumstances last summer in a £33million deal.

But Levy has proved previously that he is willing to put the past aside.

He re-signed striker Robbie Keane in February 2009, six months after grudgingly giving in to the striker’s demand to move to Liverpool.

Spurs believe Modric may relish the chance to be part of their new-look line-up with £26million-rated Valencia striker Roberto Soldado set to shatter their transfer record and more signings in the pipeline.

Modric has struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular at the Bernabeu, leading to speculation that he could quit for a return to the Premier League.

The player himself, however, responded to being linked with Chelsea last month by insisting he has no intention of leaving.

If the Spanish giants are prepared to part with him in order to land Bale, though, Modric may have no choice but to consider his options.

It all comes as Real's sporting director, football legend Zinedine Zidane, continued the club’s relentless pursuit of 24-year-old Bale by vowing: “We will not stop.”

Zidane said: “We will not give up on Gareth Bale. It is normal that Tottenham want to keep him and make him sign a new contract, but it is impossible to forget a player of his quality.”

Meanwhile, Real's Spain keeper Iker Casillas added of the Welshman: “We are talking about one of the top three or four best players in Europe and it’s normal that his name is being discussed because he has all the qualities a footballer needs.

“Every transfer is controversial in its own way, for better or worse, but we are speaking about a very good, decisive player.”