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Sam Allardyce: 'I nearly signed Luka Modric for Newcastle United'

Sam Allardyce reveals that he almost signed Luka Modric during his time as manager of Newcastle United, but was thwarted by owner Mike Ashley.

Sam Allardyce has claimed that he almost signed Croatia international Luka Modric during his time as manager of Newcastle United, but was prevented from doing so by owner Mike Ashley.

Modric joined Tottenham Hotspur from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008 before moving on to Real Madrid for a fee in the region of £30m four years later. Meanwhile, Newcastle signed Geremi from Chelsea instead.

Allardyce, who is now in charge of Sunderland, was appointed Newcastle boss in 2007 but left after just eight months at the helm once Ashley completed his takeover.

"I was on the way to getting Luka Modric from Dinamo Zagreb but, by then, Mike saw the scale of the full debt and put the clamps on, so I had to make do with Geremi from Chelsea," Allardyce wrote in his new book Big Sam.

"If ever there was a right club at the wrong time it was Newcastle United. I never had a chance once Mike Ashley took over.

"I wasn't his man and he just listened to more vocal fans who demanded change. We lost three games over Christmas at Wigan, Chelsea and at home to Man City, and the jungle drums were beating loudly."

Allardyce will take on his former side when Sunderland host Newcastle at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

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Steven Toplis
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Wayne Rooney of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's third goal with his team mate Jesse Lingard during the Barclays Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on October 17, 2015
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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