Manchester United are reportedly set to offer Real Madrid €50 million (£39 million) for Toni Kroos to beat Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain to the player this summer.
That’s according to RMC (h/t Tom Coast of Sport Witness), who state that while the three juggernauts of European football are interested in the former Bayern Munich man, it’s United who are considering putting a package together. Coast also writes that, according to the RMC piece, Real would want a minimum of €45 million to consider cashing in.
RMC’s Mohamed Bouhafsi added further details to the reported interest in Kroos, suggesting he is already “in talks” with PSG:
Coast states that the initial source claims the German wants to leave the Spanish capital after a difficult time this season. Here is a look at the kind of quality he would bring to the teams mentioned:
The main attribute is an astounding range and accuracy of passing. Pinging the ball just looks so natural to Kroos, whether darting passes into the feet of forwards and attacking midfielders or nonchalantly switching the play out to Real’s rampaging full-backs. Despite the criticism that has come his way this campaign, the German remains a class act.
Although United are well stocked in central midfield, the chance to sign a player of this standard is not one they should let slip by without a battle. Alongside an orthodox holding player like Morgan Schneiderlin—a luxury Kroos often doesn’t enjoy at the Santiago Bernabeu—he would thrive, knowing he could concentrate on shuttling forward and dictating play.
As Spanish football expert Rafael Hernandez notes, the system that has been played at Real doesn’t seem to marry up well with the German’s talents:
The sums mentioned are steep, but for a world-class player, they aren’t too excessive and certainly not out of the price range of a club like United. According to Adam Crafton of the MailOnline, current manager Louis van Gaal pulled the plug on a deal for the player in 2014, although you suspect if the chance came around again, the Red Devils would love to snap Kroos up.
According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, West Ham United are considering a move for their former player Michael Carrick, whose Manchester United contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign.
"The midfielder has also attracted interest from clubs in the US, including LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, and could move to the MLS at the end of the season," adds the piece, also noting the man himself has revealed there has been no intention signalled by the club to offer him terms on a new deal.
Despite his advancing years and perennial injury problems, the 34-year-old remains a crucial influence when out on the field. As these figures from FourFourTwo’s Stats Zone illustrate, in Sunday’s Manchester derby triumph, the veteran was marvellous:
It’s a difficult scenario for the player, who will surely feel as though he’s capable of prolonging his career at the top level. United still look a better side with him at the base of their midfield, although he won’t be around forever, is often sidelined with injuries and perhaps, with links to players like Kroos, he may find minutes tougher to come by in 2016-17.
West Ham would be an intriguing option for Carrick, too. The club are clearly going places, with a vibrant team and a fine stadium to move into next season. That’s a project most players would love to be part of, so if United are indeed keen on keeping him at Old Trafford for next season or beyond, they may well have to act quickly.
