Toni Kroos to Manchester United: Louis van Gaal's opposition to midfielder could hint at manager's sacking
Van Gaal pulled the plug on a move for Kroos two years ago when he left Bayern Munich
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United are ready to relaunch their pursuit of Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, despite Louis van Gaal’s opposition to signing the World Cup winner.
Van Gaal pulled the plug on a move for Kroos when he arrived at the club in 2014, with United instead signing Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao and Kroos’ Germany team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger the following year.
United were originally in the hunt for Kroos when he was playing for Bayern Munich, but the move was scrapped and instead he completed a transfer to Real, with the Spanish side having just completed the famous La Decima after winning the 2013/14 Champions League.
According to The Mirror, United are ready to resurrect their interest in the 26-year-old this summer and will look to lure the German to Old Trafford regardless of Van Gaal’s position over the playmaker, raising further doubts over the Dutchman’s future as manager.
With Van Gaal already facing serious doubts about his tenure at United, the move suggests that the former Ajax, Barcelona and Netherlands manager will not be in charge at the club next season. Jose Mourinho remains the favourite to take over at United – a job he has courted since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 – and while talks have taken place between Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes, and United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, no official offer has been made to the Portuguese.
One stumbling point for United in their pursuit of Kroos is that the German will not leave Real for a club that is unable to offer Champions League football. With United currently fifth in the Premier League, they must catch either Arsenal or Manchester City to qualify for next season’s tournament to ensure they are able to attract the best players to the club.
United are also in the FA Cup final, but success in the tournament is unlikely to save Van Gaal if he misses out on the top four. The intriguing dilemma is that United could try to use Mourinho’s past links with Kroos to bring him to the club given Mourinho managed him at Real, but the Portuguese may only get the job if United miss out on Champions League qualification.
Kroos remains a key figure in the Real starting line-up under Zinedine Zidane, but his form has come under scrutiny this season and his previous admission that he would like to play in the Premier League could well pave the way for a move to United.
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