Bayern Munich star Toni Kroos could be heading for a different club this summer as there are reports circulating that he could be heading towards the Premier League or La Liga.
Many within the British press are reporting that the German international could be joining Manchester United either in the next transfer window or after his contract expires at the end of the season.
Yet reports have surfaced earlier today that Real Madrid are also looking into purchasing him from the German club. This also follows on from speculation that Barcelona are also interested in Kroos’ talents.
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder has the most appearances for Bayern Munich this season, and he has contributed three goals and nine assists in those 43 games he has participated in. Needless to say that he is certainly highly valued by manager Pep Guardiola considering the amount of midfield talent that is on their books. Therefore one finds it odd that Kroos might want to exit the club (even if he has said that he wants to stay at the club).
Manchester United have been heavily tipped, and are still tipped, to sign Kroos from Bayern Munich this summer. It is without a doubt that signing Kroos would be a huge upgrade for United’s midfield but would Kroos join a club that could be finishing in seventh place in the Premier League, behind the likes of Tottenham and Everton.
And would he also fit a system where they play a 4-2-3-1 with Robin van Persie up front and Wayne Rooney behind. Would he want to play on the wings? Even if van Persie leaves this summer, they will still have to fit in Juan Mata too and therefore we would see too much competition for the “number 10” position.
On the plus side, Kroos does have the ability to be the typical centre midfielder, something which Manchester United desperately need considering that they lack a great centre midfielder nowadays. Kroos would probably line up alongside Michael Carrick in the squad and probably limiting the appearances of Darren Fletcher, Tom Cleverley and Marouane Fellaini.
Understandably Real Madrid and Barcelona definitely would be a more tempting move than Manchester United for Kroos. Yet I would be wary of joining either club if I were in his shoes.
Real Madrid are well known for acquiring a lot of talent and not doing much with some of them. Isco, a young Spanish starlet who was signed from Malaga last season, has made less league appearances this season than last season. The same thing could happen to Kroos.
He would have a lot of competition in a Real Madrid side who would insist on playing a 4-2-3-1. The current midfield selection tends to be Xabi Alonso, Luca Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Gareth Bale, with Illarramendi and Isco on the bench. A lot of competition for Kroos to deal with.
One could speculate that Di Maria could leave the club and that could mean Kroos could be the “number 10” with Ronaldo and Bales on the wings. He would probably be an upgrade on Alonso or Illarramendi as a centre midfielder but he would get the same amount of playing time. Either way, Real Madrid will be ready to splash the cash to sign his talents.
Barcelona are currently limited by a transfer ban and therefore they may be unable to sign Kroos if the German decides to leave Bayern this summer and Barcelona fail in their appeal to overturn the ruling.
Yet if the unlikely event of Kroos actually joining Barcelona happens then there will be further questions raised about how he would fit into that squad. Kroos would clearly go into the centre of midfield alongside Cesc Fabregas, and Sergio Busquets (or Xavi—depends if he leaves). This would probably force Andres Iniesta to the wings if Gerardo Martino decides to keep to the 4-3-3 formation that Barcelona are used to using.
The bottom line is that someone, whether that be a winger or a centre midfielder will be forced to leave the club if Kroos is to join Barcelona. As I stated earlier a lot of events have to take place, including the fact that Barcelona have to overturn the ban, before this move takes place, and therefore I reckon that Kroos would probably avoid Barcelona for now.
The other option is that Kroos decides to sign a new contract with Bayern Munich and prove that he is a man of his word by living up to the fact he said he wants to stay. There is a market for this player and if Kroos decides not to sign a contract before the World Cup, then I would look to move him on. And the fact that he could prompt a bidding war between clubs means that he might not go at a cut price either. Kroos could be the big story for the next transfer window.
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