Toni Kroos Has A Decision To Make: Re-Sign With Bayern Munich Or Demand A Transfer To Manchester United

Prior to Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final in Manchester, Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told German media that midfielder Toni Kroos will not be leaving the club this summer. When asked about the 24-year-old’s future, Rummenigge replied: “Toni Kroos is sure to wear Bayern Munich’s shirt next year.”

Pep Guardiola echoed his chairman’s words when he was asked about the prospects of Kroos’ departure test.

“Toni [Kroos] has one year more of a contract and Toni will remain. I spoke with him [Kroos], with the club, I have my opinion. After that, I am not manager, I am just the trainer. I hope he can extend his contract and stay with us.”

Kroos has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, more specifically to Manchester United. Today’s statements from officials at the German club will be unsettling to United fans and has more than likely put a dent into David Moyes’ summer transfer plans.

The only options Manchester United has now are to wait for Kroos’ contract with Bayern Munich to run down (the midfielder’s contract expires in 2015) and sign him on a free transfer, continue to negotiate with Bayern Munich over a transfer fee (which would have to be astronomical) or give up on the pursuit of Kroos altogether.

Bayern Munich is a club with a wealth of money. The newly crowned Bundesliga champions have shown in the past that they are not afraid to let player’s contracts run down (i.e. Michael Ballack left on a free transfer to Chelsea in 2006). The Bundesliga giants also have a wage structure in place and have stated recently that they won’t break it for any player.

A few months ago, honorary president Beckenbauer had this to say regarding the negotiations between Bayern Munich and Toni Kroos: “You have to make a decision as a club when someone’s demands are going through the roof. There is not a single player who’s worth changing your entire wage structure for. Nobody’s indispensable. If the player wants to stay at Bayern, I can only advise him not to overplay his hand.”

Kroos had asked Bayern for an increase in wages to put him on the same level as Ribery, Schweinsteiger and Lahm on the Bayern Munich wage structure. Kroos currently earns less than Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara — two players Bayern brought in last summer.

But it’s apparent the club has a number in mind as to the player’s value, which isn’t acceptable to Kroos and his agent. With that said, Kroos must either accept the club’s valuation or attempt to force its hand.

Toni Kroos has a decision to make regarding his future: re-sign with Bayern Munich or demand a transfer to Manchester United in the summer.

Kroos has a £30m buy-out clause in his contract, which Manchester United is reportedly willing to meet; United is also reportedly willing to offer the midfielder £250k-per-week to leave the German giants. But Bayern Munich has shown that they are willing to leave the £30m on the table and force Kroos to play out the remainder of his contract.

So Toni Kroos’ options are clear: sign a new deal with his club or attempt to disrupt the hierarchy by demanding a move to Manchester United.

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