Chelsea FC To Add Another Midfielder in Toni Kroos?
Earlier this week the rumor mill was abuzz with talk of Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos being bid on by a number of European clubs. Manchester United were touted as the favorites for his signature. Singing Kroos is a move that makes a whole lot of sense given United’s weaknesses in midfield and supposed roster purging that manager David Moyes will do in the summer. However there were also reports, according to retired footballer and journalist Jan Aage Fjortoft, that Chelsea have told Bayern to “name their price” for the young German.
Fjortoft’s tweet here:
Spoke to an insider in Munich. Said Chelsea apparently have told Bayern to "name the price" for Toni Kroos. Told player "wages no problem"
— Jan Aage Fjørtoft 🏳️🌈 🇳🇴 💛💙 (@JanAageFjortoft) January 27, 2014
Now Kroos is a wonderful player and would be an excellent addition to any club in the world, this signing would make little sense for Chelsea. The club is currently awash with creative midfielders and they just sold another established European international who was languishing on the bench, so why add another? While Kroos adds a more significant physical presence than Mata and certainly Oscar, his creative instincts and attacking skills would be seen as surplus. He is a regular starter for the German national team and if he is to move, it is likely to be a club where he will be guaranteed first team football.
The story takes another interesting turn as Kroos is in the midst of contract talks with Bayern Munich but manager Pep Guardiola seemed to be open to the idea of the player transferring elsewhere:
Guardiola says @ManUtd target Kroos could leave Bayern: "He's important, but it goes fast in football. Here today, there tomorrow." #MUFC
— Kevin Palmer 💙 (@RealKevinPalmer) January 28, 2014
At 24 years old, Kroos is entering the prime of his career and would not be a developmental signing like Mohamed Salah or Marco Van Ginkel. If he is indeed brought to West London, could he be seen as the heir apparent to Frank Lampard? Kroos has played both defensive and attacking midfield for Bayern and Der Mannschaft so why not do the same for Chelsea? He has been described as the “complete midfielder”, a title often given to our very own Super Frank for his box to box ways and his goals. Kroos would be a luxury signing for Chelsea but one that could very much fill a need and signal the end of Lampard’s career at Stamford Bridge.