United and Chelsea still chasing Bayern Munich star Kroos

The dilemma of Toni Kroos over a proposed move to Real Madrid has opened the door for Manchester United and Chelsea to swoop for the player.

The Bayern Munich midfield maestro was set to complete a move to the European champions after the conclusion of the World Cup but his uncertainty over a regular starting place at the Santiago Bernabeu due to the immense competition for places at the club could scupper the move.

The 24 year old is a £ 20 million target for Real Madrid who wants to bring the German international in as a direct replacement for his Germany team mate Sami Khedira who has failed to produce the kind of form expected of him at the club and move him on with Chelsea willing to sign him.

But the Bayern Munich man, who was a transfer target for David Moyes before he was sacked by Manchester United in April has told close friends about his reservation in moving to Spain with opportunities set to be limited considering Real have a wealth of midfielders in their ranks with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Isco and Asier Illaramendi all in the squad.

Manchester United was reportedly close to sealing a deal for the player before incoming Louis van Gaal pulled the plug on a deal as he wanted to bring in Dutchman Kevin Strootman from AS Roma for the midfield role. But with Strootman not expected to fully recover from a knee surgery before October, he has given the club the go ahead to resume talks with Bayern Munich for the player, who he handed his debut while in charge of the Bavarian club.

United do not have a wealth of midfield talent at the moment and the lure of first team football might just clinch the deal for them.