Real Madrid looking likely to land Toni Kroos

Real Madrid is increasingly confident that they have won the race for the signature of German international midfielder Toni Kroos.

The Spanish giants have offered a salary upwards of € 5 million per year to leave Bayern Munich, a pay package that the German side is not willing to match.

According to a respected German publication, Bayern have offered the Germany international a salary ranging between € 4 million and € 6 million, before tax. Kroos had been fevesirshly tracked by Manchester United when David Moyes was in charge at the club but incoming manager Louis van Gaal deems his former player unessential for his squad overhaul and this leaves the player with only Real as a logical option for a move.

Toni Kroos has also made contradictory statements regarding his future in recent months. When he was first linked to United, he had mentioned that he belongs to Bayern but the following week, amidst reports of contract talks breaking down, he mentioned that he cannot rule out anything in the future.

Kroos has been demanding an astronomical pay rise that will put him on equal footing with the likes of Philip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger but Bayern has refused to be held to ransom and with few clubs chasing his signature, things are in their hands.

And having paid a minimal sum to bring the player to the club, they wouldn’t be worried too much about Kroos running down his contract and leaving the club for free next summer.

Real Madrid are looking as an alternative to the ageing Xabi Alonso as a midfield general with Asier Illaramendi failing to live up to his price tag and have turned their attentions to Toni Kroos and have already held several meetings regarding a transfer with the Bayern hierarchy in recent weeks.