Barcelona are lining up a move for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric in the summer of 2011, according to reports from England.

The Daily Mail comments that the Croatian midfielder has leapt to the top of Blaugrana coach Pep Guardiola’s wanted list, after finally giving up on landing Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas.

Instead the Catalan giants feel that Modric can perform a similar role to Cesc and are willing to pay €40 million in order to tempt the 25-year-old from White Hart Lane.

Spurs paid in the region of €20m to secure the playmaker’s services from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008, and he has proved to be an inspired purchase, assisting in the London club’s qualification for the Champions League.

The Spanish giants will face stiff competition from Manchester United to secure Modric’s signature, with Sir Alex Ferguson also a huge admirer of his abilities, and is also considering a post-season swoop.

Modric is an experienced international and signed an six-year contract with Tottenham at the end of last season in order to stave off interest from the Red Devils, but it now appears that Barcelona have joined the chase.