Sir Alex Ferguson has long been an admirer of Tottenham play maker Luka Modric and it seems the Scotsman is willing to test the resolve of the north London club by tabling a £22 million bid.

Ferguson was last year put off at the £32 million price tag that had been slapped on Modric. Daniel Levy is notoriously had to negotiate with as United have found out in the past. Their acquisitions of Berbatov and Carrick prove testament to that fact.

Ferguson believes with Spurs missing out on Champions League football he will have more of a chance of lowering the cost of Modric as well as enticing the player to Old Trafford. Modric was close to joining Chelsea last summer but was not allowed to move.

The Red Devils boosted their midfield options by signing Japanese star Shinji Kagawa for £17m but would love to add the Croatian too.

Sir Alex Ferguson baulked at the £32m Spurs want for the 26-year-old but believe they can wheedle their rivals down.