• Croatian midfielder reported to be fined £80,000 • Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is with his ill wife in America

The Tottenham manager André Villas-Boas has criticised the club's midfielder Luka Modric as rumours of a departure from the club intensify.

Reports have suggested that the Croatia international has failed to travel with Spurs on their pre-season tour of America – something Villas-Boas alluded to in the Spanish press on Sunday. He is reported to be facing a fine of around £80,000.

Speaking to Spanish newspaper AS, he is reported as saying: "I think Modric is wrong. This will go against him. He has worsened the situation with what he's doing and now the chairman [Daniel Levy] is very angry.

"This is also not a good time for Daniel Levy, who is in the USA at the moment, because his wife is ill."

Villas-Boas also admitted Modric would be a major loss if he leaves Spurs. "He's good, very good. I tried to sign him last summer for Chelsea. He will be a big loss. He's a player who can make the difference, who gives a lot of clarity to the play when the team needs it and who can play in several positions," he said.

Modric tried to quit Spurs for Chelsea a year ago under the management of Harry Redknapp, and this summer appears keen on forcing through a switch to the Spanish champions Real Madrid.