Luka Modric won't ask for a transfer and so Chelsea will have to stump up silly money to land the Croatian midfielder.
Unlike new manager Andre Villas-Boas, who bought out his £15m get-out clause in his contract with Porto to sign a megabucks deal at SW6, Modric's agent has insisted his client won't be asking to leave the north Londoners.
The Croatia international, 25, has said he would welcome a move to Chelsea.
Nikky Vuksan, his agent said: "I don't think he'll hand in a transfer request. He will honour his contract.
"He wants to play Champions League and win trophies. The only way we can resolve this is to sit down and talk."
So all Chelsea can do now is increase the pressure by improving on the only offer for Modric so far - a £22m one rejected out of hand by Spurs.
But this is a waiting game and Chelsea has a final figure in mind - they will increase the offer to £28m and hope that will alert the player to their serious intentions.
It's hoped that then Modric will decide to ask for a move .
Spurs will then of course hold out for more money - in the £35m range but will more than likely accept £32m.
While this is going on, of course, Chelsea will attempt to hijack Manchester United for the signing of Arsenal's Samir Nasri.
Nasri is seen as the back-up plan if they can't get Modric away from Tottenham.