Steven Pienaar has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur will find it difficult to keep hold of Luka Modric.

Spurs were thought to have rejected three bids from Premier League rivals Chelsea for the in-demand Croatian over the summer.

"Luka is a top player for Spurs and if he leaves it is hard to say what will ­happen there," Pienaar, who recently rejoined Everton on loan from White Hart Lane, told The Mirror.

"He is such an important member of the team. Tottenham will want to keep him at the club, but it is difficult when a player like him wants to move on.

"As a player only a few ­opportunities to move on come up in your life, so I can see it from both sides."

Manchester United are the latest club to have been linked with a move for Modric.