Real Madrid Transfer Rumors: Toni Kroos To Bernabeu? Morata, Khedira Deals Close?

Never to be outspent or one-upped by their Spanish counterpart and rival Barcelona, Real Madrid are plotting several summer transfers in the hopes of equaling the Catalans expected splash move for striker Luis Suarez.

Nou Camp officials have been in torrid pursuit of the embattled and banned Uruguayan for the last week, and a deal appears imminent with Liverpool keen on selling Suarez for as much as a reported £75 to £80 million.

Now it appears Los Blancos will counter by sprucing up the midfield with current Bayern Munich and World Cup final-bound German star Toni Kroos, and they are being far more thrifty and cost-effective than the Catalans.

According to Daily Star, the £25 million deal will be announced following the World Cup and cancels out the final year of Kroos’s contract with Munich. The 24-year-old has totaled 23 goals in Bundesliga over the last seven years, including his one-year loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen, but rather than score Kroos may have more of an impact dropping back as a playmaker and defensive midfielder for Cristiano Ronaldo to focus on scoring while helping out Luka Modric.

Kroos will reportedly earn as much as £6.5 million-a-year in Madrid, but Chelsea and Manchester United are still in pursuit so an official announcement may have to wait. Kroos has already rejected a new contract offer from Munich, so he’s clearly focused on playing outside of Germany for at least next season.

Los Blancos will also be sellers once the World Cup has concluded, with the long-rumored change of scenery for striker Alvaro Morata seen as a forgone conclusion. The 21-year-old’s agent reportedly told Spanish outlet Marca that reigning Serie A champions Juventus are inching closer to a deal, but Madrid will more than likely negotiate for a buy-back clause for the chance to bring Morata back at some point.

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti did say he expected Morata to play elsewhere next season, but never questioned the player’s talents and clearly Bernabeu officials want him to be part of the club once he gains more experience.

While Morata’s switch is viewed as a win-win for both sides, Los Blancos seem less inclined to let midfielder Sami Khedira slip away. The Daily Mirror reported earlier this week that Arsenal have made acquiring Khedira a top priority, with Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin as a contingency.

Khedira is under contract until the end of next season, and though he’s scored only six goals in three seasons in Spain, the defensive midfielder played a critical role in the club’s La Liga and Champions League titles during that span.

Adding Kroos certainly would ease the pain of losing Khedira, but Madrid might be better served with both on the roster. However, Arsenal’s overtures, along with Germany teammate and Gunners playmaker Mesut Ozil likely pitching him, could mean that Khedira seriously considers a move to England.