• Reports claim Spanish champions have a buy-back option
• Romeu’s agent says player’s ‘dream’ was to play for Barcelona

Chelsea’s Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu could return to his homeland in 2013, according to his agent.

Romeu joined the Blues from Barcelona in the summer and has already forged a place as André Villas-Boas’s preferred defensive midfielder ahead of Mikel John Obi. The 20-year-old’s future at Stamford Bridge has, however, already been questioned with reports claiming Barcelona have a buy-back option at the end of this season, as well as in the summer of 2013.

Chelsea have denied that, stating only that Barça have first refusal if they were willing to sell – a scenario that looks increasingly unlikely as Romeu establishes himself. And while the midfielder is keen to repay Chelsea’s faith, their hopes of holding on to the player in the long-term could be jeopardised by his apparent desire one day to return to Barça.

His agent, Javier Mágico Díaz, said: “Will Romeu return? His dream before leaving was to be a Barcelona player and that still stands, but we cannot ignore the opportunity Chelsea have provided. We’ll have to see if it’s appropriate for the club and the player [to return to Barcelona].

“We need to know if he’ll keep developing at Chelsea and playing. Maybe it will be more convenient to stay for another year and then return in 2013.”

Despite that Díaz said Romeu, who had been restricted to Barcelona’s B team before his move to England, felt indebted to Chelsea for giving him his chance at the top level. “Oriol has made a name for himself in the Premier League and is playing regularly,” he added. “We’re committed to the club and we cannot leave them hanging.”

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• Croatia midfielder responds to link with Manchester United
• Expects to stay at Spurs – ‘but everything is possible’

Luka Modric says he does not expect to leave Tottenham during the January transfer window, but admits “everything is possible”.

The Croatia midfielder, whose hopes of joining Chelsea in a £27m deal last summer were blocked by the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, has recently been linked with Manchester United, and is still to sign the contract extension offered by Levy in September.

Asked about the ongoing speculation, Modric told Sportske Novosti: “All this talk is just in the press – I don’t know anything about any of these supposed offers.

“We are doing our best to ensure Tottenham get the results the fans and the club demand. Given the current situation, and particularly given the fact I don’t want a repeat of what I went through during the summer transfer window, I can say with almost 100% certainty that I’ll be staying at Tottenham until the end of the season.

“I would always say that, theoreTranstically, there is a small chance I could leave, if the club receive a suitable offer and it’s one I wouldn’t want to turn down, but the reality is that I expect to stay at Spurs until June, and then we will see.

“Everything is possible, but it’s not something I’m concerning myself with. So long as I am fit and playing well, I’m happy just to see what happens. If I stay at Tottenham, nothing will change. I will give my all in every game.”

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