Barcelona Want Spurs' Croatian Star - Report

Spanish club Barcelona are keeping tabs on Tottenham Hotspur's Croatian defender Vedran Corluka, according to Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.

New Catalan boss Tito Vilanova wants to strengthen the club's defence ahead of next season and the report says Corluka's performances have impressed the Spaniard. Barca's representatives have been closely monitoring Croatia's games at the European Championships and it is Corluka and not Luka Modric who has caught their attention.

The 26 year old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, has expressed his desire to leave Spurs this summer. It was suggested the former Manchester City player might wait for the appointment of a new manager, following Harry Redknapp's sacking, before taking a decision but the defender has stated he wants a fresh challenge.

"I want to move on, four years was enough," The Sun quoted Corluka as saying. The defender arrived at Tottenham from City in the summer of 2008 and has made more than 100 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Corluka's compatriot and Spurs team mate Luka Modric is closing in on a move to Spain, according to Sporting Gijon striker Mate Bilic, who claims to be a close friend of the Tottenham midfielder. The striker was quoted as saying he had been told by Modric himself that he wanted to play in Spain, according to an earlier IBTimes UK report.

The Croatian playmaker's future at the north London club is in doubt following the club's failure to book a spot in the Champions League next season and Redknapp's exit. Corluka had also recently said Tottenham would find it difficult to keep Modric this summer.

Real Madrid and Manchester United are among a host of clubs interested in Modric, who recently stated he was pleased to be linked with the European giants. Other clubs monitoring Modric include French side Paris St Germain (PSG) who, according to the Daily Mail, are weighing up a £30mn bid for the player.