Chelsea have been getting mixed signals about the availability of Luka Modric with Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond stating that the player could be sold if a substantial amount was offered, despite reinstating that club remains adamant about holding on to him.

Modric has been linked with the Blues all summer and is their top target and he could go a long way in solving the creativity problems in the heart of Chelsea's midfield. Though they had their two previous bids rejected for the player, reports suggest they're on the verge of offering an improved offer £30 million.

Though the improved offer will fall much below Spurs' valuation of the player, Bond admitted, in a report in talkSport, that the player could move on if offered mega-bucks.

He said, "We desperately don't want to lose him, but everyone has a price. If somebody came along and the money turns your head and he did go - although the chairman is adamant he doesn't want to sell him - then we'd have to get on with it.

"Transfers are part and parcel of the game but you don't want to lose your best players and he certainly is one of our best players."

Bond later clarified that he wasn't implying that the player would be sold.

He said, "For the purpose of clarification and in case my comments this morning inadvertently misled anyone, the club's position on Luka Modric is quite clear - we have no intention of selling him."

Another player linked to Chelsea throughout the summer is Belgian whiz-kid Romelu Lukaku. The 18-year-old had previously stated his keenness to move to Stamford Bridge, but has now admitted that the case would be less so if the Blues were planning to loan him out.

Lukaku told VTM, "When I do leave, it will not be to be loaned out as Thibaut Courtois has been. I want to go to a club where I can develop further. It's not that I just want to be transferred to Chelsea.

"At the moment, I am patient. I remain at Anderlecht and I am not thinking of a transfer."

Zhirkov failed to seal a first-team spot at Chelsea with injuries not helping his case.

One player who is set to leave the club is Russian Yuri Zhirkov, who arrived at the Bridge two years ago for a reported £18 million, according to the Daily Telegraph. After enduring two torrid years at the club, he is now set to depart after heading Andre Villas-Boas' list of players he wishes to sell.

The 27-year-old could be on his way back to Russia and is in talks to join Anzhi Makhachkala. The reported fee is around the region of £13 million, though it is unclear to as to how far that is true.

Zhirkov, who can play at left-back or on the left side of midfield, admitted at the end of last season that he was unhappy at the club due to lack of regular football. "Unfortunately at Chelsea I haven't had enough match practice in the last season. I want to play football and not sit on the bench," He had said.

The Telegraph goes on to say that Newcastle's Luis Enrique and Porto's Alvaro Perreira are being considered as replacements for the Russian. Width is another key issue for the club and Chelsea are said to be considering Shakhtar Dontesk's Brazilian midfielder Willian as well as Manchester City's English winger Adam Johnson of whom Villas-Boas is said to be a big fan of.

Finally, Brazilian defender Alex could be the subject of a £6m bid from Juventus, talkSport reports. Alex has fallen down the pecking order at the Bridge, after the arrival of David Luiz and with new Juventus boss Antonio Conte revamping his squad, Alex has been linked with a move to Italy and could be the second player departing Chelsea, leaving ample space for new experienced foreign signings.

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