Latest reports have confirmed that Manchester United have prioritized their signing of Toni Kroos in the coming summer window. It was all the way back in 2007 when a young seventeen-year old broke into Bayern’s first team and made an immediate impact by setting up two goals for German legend Miroslav Klose. The impressive start to his career as Toni Kroos spiralled up the progress ladder and made most of his limited game time at Bayern Munich.
He was subsequently loaned out to Bayer Leverkusen for eighteen months where he continued to develop and upon returning took on the mantle as the chief midfield creator for Bayern and led the club to great success including Heynckes’ treble-winning team of 2012-13.
Unfortunately, things fell through between the player and the club in the future and Real Madrid swooped in and lured him away to Santiago Bernabeu. He is now into his fourth year at the club and has developed into not only an integral cog in the team but into one of the finest midfielders in the world at Real Madrid.
However, if Kroos were to leave for Manchester United, here are three replacements they can consider.
Paul Pogba
Le Havre product Paul Pogba joined United as a sixteen-year-old and rose quickly through the academy. Within two years he broke into the first team and started playing for the reserves regularly. In the 2011-12 season he made his first-team debut but throughout his first season, he never got enough game time to his liking.
While Sir Alex Ferguson was justified in not overplaying an eighteen-year-old, especially with United chasing the title, the situation spun out of control as the French teenager left for Juventus the following season. Over the next four years at Juventus, he went on to become one of the most dangerous box-to-box midfielders in the world.
Brute strength, genius skill on the ball, incredible athletic prowess and a fancy for the incredible; Pogba was readying himself to become a Ballon d’Or material in the coming years. The dynamic midfielder had developed into a world-class player and Manchester United, who let him go as a teenager, had to fork out a record-breaking £89.3 m to bring him back. He could prove to be a world-class addition in place of Kroos.
N’Golo Kante
Although not a like for like replacement, Kante will add some great quality to a high-tempo Madrid team. His defensive ability to tackle and intercept as if almost second nature will allow freedom to Real midfield to attack freely. Kante’s experience of knowing when to sit back and when to push forward also makes him invaluable especially if Casemiro where to suffer an unfortunate injury or suspension.
Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian players came to Chelsea as a youngster but the Blues deemed him not got enough to play for Chelsea. He was sold to German club Wolfsburg where he set up a record number of assists in two years. It earned him an expensive ticket back to England to Manchester City and since his arrival, he has justified his worth. He has been the best player in England by far this season and hence it is no surprise why Madrid could come calling for him next season if they lose Kroos.
