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If recent transfer rumors are to be believed, Toni Kroos' seven-year association with Real Madrid might be coming to an end after the ongoing season.
Liverpool have recently been linked with a £20 million move for the 31-year-old. If the move does materialize, Real Madrid will have a huge task on their hand to replace one of the greatest midfielders of this generation.
In seven seasons with Real Madrid, Toni Kroos has won everything there is to win in club football. Four UEFA Champions League titles, two La Ligas, two Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Super Cups and four FIFA Club World Cup titles.
Real Madrid will want to identify a long-term successor for the aging Toni Kroos
While winning all the aforementioned accolades, Toni Kroos scored 22 goals, provided 80 assists and formed arguably the greatest midfield pairing of the last decade with Luka Modric. Add Casemiro to the fold and Real Madrid possibly have the best midfield trio of this generation. But age seems to be catching up to Toni Kroos and Modric, and Real Madrid need to find a solution soon enough.
There aren't many midfielders in the world who can take the German's place and not let the club feel his absence. We have listed down five midfielders here who can replace Toni Kroos at Real Madrid, or at least try to:
#5 Aurelien Tchouameni
The 21-year-old France and Monaco midfielder, Aurelien Tchouameni, is one of the hottest properties in the transfer market. The defensive midfielder has been attracting interest from some of the best European clubs since his Bordeaux days.
Inter were supposedly quite close to completing his signing last season but Tchouameni chose Monaco instead as confirmed by his former agent:
"Inter had shown a lot of interest like a few other European clubs, who also wanted to move for him. But Aurelien wanted to go step by step – first play for Bordeaux’s first team as he came from their academy. It was a good choice to move to Monaco and after Monaco, it will be a big chance for him to go to a bigger club in Italy or England."
Tchouameni's form for Monaco last season earned him a call-up to the France national side. And since the France international has partnered Paul Pogba on national team duties, Manchester United are naturally interested in him.
However, recently, Real Madrid have reportedly shown interest in the 21-year-old as well. The Los Blancos midfield is in need of reinforcements and the youngster could be a good replacement for Toni Kroos.
Monaco reportedly rate him at around €60 million, and Real Madrid will have to shell out at least that much to stand a chance of securing the midfielder's signature.
#4 Leon Goretzka
Toni Kroos was the last midfielder that Real Madrid signed from Bayern Munich. As such, the Spanish giants would hope that Leon Goretzka could do something similar if they end up signing him.
The 26-year-old was linked with a summer move to Real Madrid when he only had a year remaining on his contract with the German giants. There were reports that Madrid could even convince Goretzka to sign a pre-contract with them in January 2022 and then join them on a free next summer. However, the central midfielder ended up signing a new contract and the rumors were put to rest.
But as Real Madrid have shown in the past, they have the pulling power required to snap up the players they desperately need in their ranks. And in Goretzka, they get an energetic midfielder with ample experience of playing at the biggest of stages. He can also operate as an attacking midfielder or play on the right of a midfield three if required.
But in reality, a move for him looks unlikely, especially since Real Madrid have other easier options on their plate to replace Toni Kroos.
#3 Federico Valverde
Maybe Real Madrid just need to dive into their squad list to find a replacement for Toni Kroos. Federico Valverde has shown that he can be a great midfield asset for Real Madrid, and has been a regular in the team for the last two seasons now.
Valverde has started all the league games for Los Blancos this season, and is all set to be a long-term mainstay in midfield for them. The Uruguayan also wouldn't have to settle into a new club, which is a massive plus.
Should Toni Kroos decide to move on from Real Madrid after the ongoing season, they won't have to fret much if the transfer market doesn't come to their rescue.
#2 Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga was signed by Real Madrid in the summer transfer window earlier this year from Stade Rennais for €31 million. And he could turn out to be the long-term replacement for Toni Kroos that they are now looking for.
Camavinga predominantly plays in central midfield and occupies positions similar to Toni Kroos. He has already made seven appearances for the club and registered a goal and an assist.
At just 18 years of age, Camavinga has everything required to grow into one of the best midfielders in Europe in the coming years. And possibly, he could successfully replace Toni Kroos in the Real Madrid line-up.
#1 Paul Pogba
Real Madrid have had a long-lasting interest in Paul Pogba but Manchester United have managed to hold on to him so far. But with Pogba having just a year left on his contract and United enduring a dodgy start to the season, a move to Spain cannot be ruled out.
Pogba has been flirting with a move away from Manchester United for quite some time, and his agent Mino Raiola has time and again fuelled rumors of a possible exit.
The midfielder possesses the passing range that Toni Kroos has been known for over the years, and adds combativeness to their midfield as well. The Frenchman is much more of a goal-scoring threat too, which again makes him an exciting prospect for Real Madrid. Pogba is out of contract next summer and will be open to discussing his next move as early as January if he does not sign a new deal at Old Trafford.
