Tottenham Hotspur are said to be preparing for life without Luka Modric by lining up a bid for Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Modric has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid and the 26-year-old Croatia international is reportedly on the verge of handing in a transfer request at White Hart Lane for the second successive summer.

Sigurdsson's future is also currently in the balance. The 22-year-old was close to joining Swansea City, where he had spent the second half of last season on loan, prior to manager Brendan Rodgers's departure from the South Wales club.

Liverpool are now leading the race for the Icelander, but Spurs are considering hijacking the Reds' bid for the player, according to The Mirror.

Hoffenheim have confirmed that Sigurdsson is likely to move to an English club this summer.