Bayern Munich have held talks with Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan as the uncertain future of Toni Kroos in Bavaria takes another twist.
Yesterday, Kroos publicly stated that he was happy to delay contract talks with Bayern until after the World Cup as no agreement had yet been reached but this leaked news about Gundogan talks could be Bayern’s immediate response.
SEE MORE: Kroos confirms interest
This looks to be a classic case of Bayern exerting more pressure on Kroos by making him aware they could sign Gundogan as an alternative, probably for less wages than he is demanding, which would therefore force him into a decision sooner rather than later more on Bayern’s terms than Kroos’.
Focus: Bayern have held talks w/ Gündogan. This comes 1 day after KHR said FCB did not adopt a non-BVB xfer policy (as Sport-Bild reported)
— Incog Neato (@incognitoMrBuLi) March 4, 2014
It's possible that Focus' news on Gündogan talks w/ Bayern is old, that he turned them down & then KHR leaked word of his non-BVB policy 1/2
— Incog Neato (@incognitoMrBuLi) March 4, 2014
Correction to prev Tweet: 2/2 That doesn't explain why KHR publicly said y'day that FCB won't NOT sign BVB players. Gündogan only candidate
— Incog Neato (@incognitoMrBuLi) March 4, 2014
Bayern could be using Gündogan interest as posturing to get Kroos to take lower wages…Could mean that TK is keen to accept MU/CFC mega-deal
— Incog Neato (@incognitoMrBuLi) March 4, 2014
This is a game of cat and mouse between Kroos and Bayern. Both camps are speaking to the press to try and swing negotiations in their favour in a tit-for-tat tug of war for control.
Kroos really is playing a dangerous game because ultimately, he is just one of a host of world class players at Bayern and although replacing him with Gundogan would hardly be an improvement, Bayern’s squad is strong enough to cope without him.
Wayne Rooney showed the world that a player who is considered indispensable to a club can hold it to ransom but at the end of the day, is Kroos indispensable to Bayern yet? Players like Thiago and Mario Goetze are held in higher regard hence why Bayern are unwilling to match Kroos’ wages to theirs so right now, Kroos doesn’t have that stature at Bayern.
Image: Twitter/Goal