MARTIN KEOWN: Why Kroos is just the first piece of the jigsaw as Van Gaal tries to rebuild Manchester United back into champions

anchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos for £20million.

The Germany midfielder will be United's 'go-to' player and for that sort of money they will expect big things.

Here, Sportsmail columnist Martin Keown gives the lowdown on the 24-year-old...

Done deal: Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos for £20m

The Transfer

Toni Kroos is a good bit of business for Manchester United, but he is only the first piece of the jigsaw. They still need to bring in reinforcements across the squad if they want to get back to where they were. However, a signing like this does show the power United still have.

People questioned whether being out of the Champions League next season would affect their ability to buy top names. Well, here’s your answer. 

It’s good to get any transfers done before a World Cup so that the player’s mind is clear, and it’s particularly helpful if that player goes on to play a starring role in the tournament.

But it is interesting that a club like Bayern was happy to let him go – you would have thought it would be any young German player’s dream to want to stay and win trophies at the best club in the country. Plenty of European clubs will have been interested in him but he is the marquee signing that could start the ball rolling for United.

Green light: The deal to bring Kroos to Old Trafford, which was agreed when David Moyes was still in charge, has been given the go ahead by new boss Louis van Gaal

The Player

There is no doubting Kroos’ ability. He is a quality passer of the ball, he can defend and he has excellent vision. United want to play quick, incisive football and Kroos is a good place to start. He keeps things simple, always has time in possession and with his range of passing, United will hope he could fill a Paul Scholes-shaped hole in their midfield.

Talent: Kroos is a quality passer of the ball, can defend and has excellent vision and should fit in at United

Fill the gap: United will be hoping Kroos is capable of filling the hole in midfield left by Paul Scholes

His performance against Arsenal in the Champions League made people sit up and take notice – he completed 147 passes, only 11 less than the entire Gunners team put together – but it’s important to remember he was playing against 10 men for a large part of that game. He also only scored four goals in 51 appearances this season, so he is not exactly prolific. 

Sometimes he floats in and out of matches and with Philipp Lahm often playing deep in that Bayern midfield, Kroos was not their go-to player. He will need to fulfil that role at United.
If he plays in a midfield two, and at the minute he would likely partner Michael Carrick, he would need to work on his mobility. Yaya Toure and Fernandinho have set the benchmark for all-action midfield pairings and United have to find their own combination. Kroos can be part of that but he will need an energetic partner.