Toni Kroos transfer would make strange Man City decision even worse

A cynic may argue Toni Kroos has been at the Etihad Stadium ever since Sergio Aguero's statue was unveiled in May 2022 but he in fact remains at Real Madrid.

Yet, rumours are gathering that Manchester City are interested in signing the legendary midfielder. Kroos is out of contract in the summer and as he plays in Spain, the Blues could theoretically begin negotiations with him ahead of a free move in the summer from January onwards. The Sun reports City are considering doing just that.

It's hard to believe Pep Guardiola would be keen to add a midfielder who turns 34 in January to his squad but if City were to recruit Kroos it would make their handling of Ilkay Gundogan even stranger. The Blues waved goodbye to their treble-winning captain in the summer as he departed for Barcelona upon the expiration of his contract.

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A contract City could have and should have done much more to extend. Though the club has gotten used to seeing legendary figures leave in recent years, Gundogan was a different case.

Unlike Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Sergio Aguero and David Silva, Gundogan was not on the decline but rather playing the best football of his career. He was Guardiola's most trusted lieutenant on the pitch and was pivotal to making the manager's intricate system work. Not to mention all the crucial goals he scored.

Though injuries to Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Bernardo Silva have also had an impact, City have been far from their best so far this season and the absence of Gundogan to make the midfield tick has had a negative impact. Considering his importance to the side,