10 Exceptional Players Newcastle United Should Never Have Turned Down

2. Luka Modric

Following Keegan's understandable resignation from Newcastle several startling revelations came to light during the court case over his constructive dismissal, which spelled the end of most Newcastle fans' hopes that Mike Ashley was the real financial messiah the Magpies needed. It was proved in a court of law that Ashley had lied to the manager, and mislead the fans, and Keegan was awarded a £2m pay-out that Ashley took personally. Later still, Keegan revealed in a talk-in with Newcastle fans in the region just how close Luka Modric came to joining the Magpies, and precisely why he ended up joining Tottenham Hotspur at the last minute. The Magpies had agreed a £12m fee for Modric, but the deal went sour despite Newcastle stealing a march on their rivals for his attention thanks to the Croatian's agent's fondness for Keegan as a player. Modric even came to the club, but then Tony Jimenez put all of his football knowledge into the assessment that the player was not good enough for the Premier League, leaving Keegan's jaw hanging. He went to Spurs instead, and then as the final insult, Modric went on to Real Madrid for £33m, robbing Mike Ashely of another of those pay-days he so loves.