EST SCORES What does the summer hold for Toni Kroos? Despite interest from Manchester United and with only a year left on his current deal, the midfielder is likely to remain with Bayern Munich and could be rewarded with a pay-hike 26 May 2014 07:30:00 COMMENT By Ewan Roberts For so long Toni Kroos appeared destined to become the protagonist of this summer’s greatest, most protracted transfer saga, with the German playmaker at the centre of a tug-of-war between current club Bayern Munich and suitors Manchester United. The 24-year-old was seen by axed Old Trafford boss David Moyes as the creative, cerebral hub that United had craved since Paul Scholes hung up his boots. It was the Scot who put in much of the leg work towards a potential deal, frequently rumoured to be, and pictured at, Bayern’s matches this season – and usually in conversation with Kroos’s representative, Sascha Breese. United even used their Champions League quarter-final against die Roten to test the water over a £40 million bid, a gargantuan offer with Kroos’s contract set to expire next year, with the Premier League side’s readiness to double the German’s salary the cherry on the top of United’s charm offensive. The eyelash-fluttering did not only go one way, either. Kroos had been especially coy on his future at the height of the speculation, saying “much is possible” and lauding the quality of the Premier League, while his brother even admitted to supporting United as a child. There were also signs that Kroos was not wholly content in Bavaria. Suggestions that he was unhappy with his current wage – less than half of what Mario Gotze earns – were coupled with a flicker of frustration upon being substituted in a 1-1 draw with United at Old Trafford, which was followed by a brief exchange of words with Pep Guardiola on the sidelines. The interest in Kroos, meanwhile, was not expected to cease upon the arrival of new manager Louis van Gaal; United’s need for a midfielder is no less urgent, while the Dutch coach has a pre-existing relationship with the playmaker, who he handed a prominent role to at the Allianz Arena during their single season together. That said, Van Gaal has made his own suggestions for squad strengthening and is keen to bring Kevin Strootman to Manchester. The Roma man was described as one of the Netherlands’ three most important players by his national team boss, and is considered to possess more defensive strength and box-to-box qualities than Kroos
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 08:01:43 +0000