Will Madrid midfielder Kroos move to Liverpool, Man City or PSG?

Martin Macdonald

• 5 Nov 2021 17:36 GMT
• 6 min read

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has been linked with Liverpool, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in reports from the Spanish media on Friday.

El Nacional has revealed that Madrid president Florentino Perez would be open to the idea of selling the World Cup winner as it would allow for funds to be raised before the player enters the final year of his contract at Santiago Bernabeu.

At the moment, Kroos has a deal until 2023 which means that in January of next year he will either have to speak to another club about a summer transfer away, or extend his stay with Real Madrid.

Kroos has become a key play in the Spanish capital since his €25 million transfer from Bayern Munich in 2014.

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With Real Madrid, he helped establish a period of European dominance for Los Blancos, contributing to no less than four Champions League titles in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

At just 31, Kroos is still considered to be one of the best midfielders in the world.

He very nearly came close to moving to the Premier League before joining Madrid in 2014 as he reportedly had an agreement with Manchester United before Louis van Gaal pulled the plug on the deal.

El Nacional reports that Liverpool and Man City would both be interested in making a deal happen, though.

The Reds are yet to replace Georginio Wijnaldum following his move to PSG, while there are doubts over the futures or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita.

Man City, meanwhile, are looking for a long-term replacement for Fernandinho.

In the summer of 2021, PSG successfully took Sergio Ramos off Real Madrid's hands and hope to strike a deal for Kroos also.

Will Kroos leave Real Madrid?

Unfortunately for Kroos' suitors, it seems highly unlikely that he will leave Real Madrid unless he is pushed.

In fact, his agent recently suggested that it is Kroos' intention to actually retire at Santiago Bernabeu.

“I think that Toni will end his career at Real Madrid,” Volker Strooth told Sport1.

“He hasn’t told me in any phone call that he would like to leave. He and his family are very happy in Madrid.”

Kroos has already announced his retirement from international football following criticism over his individual and Germany's collective performances at Euro 2020.

“I have played 106 times for Germany. There won't be another one,” said the Madrid star on his Instagram account.

“I would have loved, and gave it my all once again, that in the end there would have been 109 international matches and that this one big title, the European Championship title, would have come at the end.

“I had already made the decision to retire after this tournament. It had been clear to me for some time that I would not be available for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“Above all, because I want to concentrate fully on my goals with Real Madrid for the next few years. From now on, I will consciously allow myself breaks that I haven't had as an international player for eleven years.

“And I also want to be more of a husband and father to my wife and three children. It was a great honour for me to wear this jersey for such a long time. I did it with pride and passion.

“Thank you to all the fans and supporters who have carried and supported me with their applause and cheers. And thanks to all the critics for their extra motivation.

“Finally, I would like to thank Jogi Löw most of all. He made me a national player and world champion. He trusted me. We have written a success story for a long time.

“It was an honour, take care - and good luck and success to Hansi Flick.”