Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel recently expressed regret that the Red Devils had missed their chance to sign Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos as a replacement for veteran Michael Carrick.
The recent performances of English midfielder Michael Carrick are indicative of just how badly Manchester United need a player like him in the team. However, manager Jose Mourinho recent suggested that he cannot start the 35-year-old week in and week out given his advancing years.
The Red Devils are yet to find a replacement for Carrick, despite spending over £200 million on central midfielders in the past couple of years. Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was recently conversing with his followers on Twitter regarding this issue and agreed with the suggestion that the club needed a true replacement for Carrick.
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was mentioned as a possible option. Schmeichel rates the player highly, but rued the fact that United had missed the chance to sign the former Bayern Munich player.
We look a different more confident side with Carrick in midfield @ManUtd
— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) November 6, 2016
Agreed, shows that we need to find a replacement and quick. If we can buy in January, we could still challenge… #mufc https://t.co/LWXbp0Q0e4
— Ben Pearce (@benspeech) November 6, 2016
I agree, but who? https://t.co/fDJ2zARpJc
— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) November 6, 2016
@Pschmeichel1 Toni Kroos would be the perfect replacement.
— Randy Marsh (@TheRandyMarsh1) November 6, 2016
Agree, but we had our chance with him https://t.co/tjc2NqEb3F
— Peter Schmeichel (@Pschmeichel1) November 6, 2016
The Germany midfielder was one of the top targets for Manchester United in 2014. It was even believed that he had agreed a deal in principle with the club before David Moyes was sacked. However, incoming Dutch manager Louis van Gaal reportedly pulled the plug on the deal, and Kroos ended up joining Real Madrid from Bayern for £20 million.
That is a paltry sum compared to what Man United spent that summer on the likes of Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera. Van Gaal brought in a boatload of midfielders the next summer as well, including Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, who have barely featured under Jose Mourinho.
This past summer saw Mourinho break the bank for United’s youth academy product and one of the most highly rated midfielders in the world, Paul Pogba.
None of these players have been able to completely replace Carrick so far, although Spaniard Ander Herrera looks to be the pick of the lot. The bargain buy of Kroos could have done United a world of good if the deal had gone through back in 2014.
