Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas expects the Luka Modric-Real Madrid situation to be sorted out soon, while dismissing rumors of Jermain Defoe leaving the club, with the head coach still hopeful of concluding a deal for Manchester City and former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Modric saga has hung around the entire summer at Spurs, with the Croatian trying to force a move to Real. Chairman Daniel Levy had refused to budge from the £40 million ($63 million) asking price for the gifted playmaker, but it is now understood Real have reached a compromise agreement with the North London club in a package believed to be worth a little over £30 million ($47.1 million).
"I think we will have a conclusion in the next couple of weeks," Villas-Boas told reporters.
"We expect him here to train. He is still a Tottenham player but from what the chairman has told me talks are ongoing, they stalled a little bit two weeks ago, but they have picked up recently.
"We set out a plan for the player and we have stuck to it. The player is training individually and he doesn't disrupt our environment."
Spurs have been linked with a move for Joao Moutinho as Modric's replacement, with the Portuguese, who had a highly successful one-year spell with Villas-Boas at Porto, recently hinting at a move before the transfer window closes on August 31. The Spurs manager, however, refused to name any player, but admitted there were a few set targets in his mind.
"Obviously we have outlined a couple of solutions (for Modric's replacement)," the former Chelsea manager revealed. "We have made initial contact with a couple of clubs but I think before this situation is resolved we can't do anything because we already have a certain amount of players in that position."
Spurs are alarmingly short in the striker's department with Jermain Defoe the only recognized striker available. The England international claimed earlier this week, he would look to move on if he were not guaranteed a place in the starting XI. Villas-Boas, however, quickly calmed those fears, insisting the striker would stay at White Hart Lane, while also revealing he was on the lookout for one more forward.
"I have spoken to Jermain and his agent about the situation. The talks were positive," the Portuguese said. "Obviously we are looking for one more striker because we need one.
"Jermain scored 18 goals last year. He was a key player and will continue to be. That's the expectancy I have with regards to his future. Competition is something that he is used to. The goal that he scored yesterday shows he can make the difference.
"He is tremendous. It was a great goal, he has great technical ability."
Adebayor, who had a successful loan spell with Spurs last season, has been stalling on a deal, after failing to agree a severance package with City, despite both clubs agreeing a fee a while back. Villas-Boas is hopeful a deal can be concluded soon. "There are talks (with City). They have been happening for quite some time.
"We have touched on different players in that position, but we have not been able to conclude a deal. Our focus and attention is towards that position, which we will try to sort out next week."