Manchester United Transfer News: James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos Rumours Emerge

Manchester United are looking to take advantage of player discontent at Real Madrid by capturing James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos from the Spanish capital.

Spanish media outlet Fichajes (h/t Mark Brus of Metro) claims James is hugely admired by United manager Louis van Gaal and the Dutchman will bid for the Colombian superstar, who is "unhappy" playing for Los Blancos coach Rafael Benitez. 

Fichajes said the 24-year-old could be enthused to move to the north-west if LvG promises to make him the "cornerstone" of the Red Devils squad.

The attacker has been on the outskirts of Benitez's plans since the Spaniard took charge this term, appearing only eight times in La Liga and the Champions League, according to WhoScored.com.

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Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror said James and Benitez's relationship is now "under the spotlight," as the former Liverpool boss looks to find a way of accommodating his Galactico contingent.

Malyon wrote:

"

There are a few different ways to read the ongoing situation between the €80 million man [James Rodriguez] and his manager.

One is that James is a victim of [Florentino] Perez’s desperation to make Gareth Bale the centre-piece of this Real Madrid team. Much of Benitez’s task is to get the best out of the Welshman and, often that has seen Rodriguez left on the sidelines.

Another is that the 24-year-old reportedly returned to the club overweight (albeit supposedly just 2kg) and Benitez has been punishing him for it by leaving him out of the side and the relationship has since "broken".

"

Spanish publication Don Balon (h/t Brus) recently said the playmaker is prepared to leave the Santiago Bernabeu in the near future, and his agent Jorge Mendes is already planning an escape route to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester City also in the hunt.

Here is a video of James' greatest moments in a Real shirt:

United have lacked superstar quality under the reign of Van Gaal since the Dutchman took charge 18 months ago, and James would bring an improved mandate to the Theatre of Dreams.

The Manchester giants are without a win in their last five in all competitions, forcing Van Gaal to assess his options ahead of the January transfer window.

LvG told a press conference before the team's clash with Norwich City in the league he will find it hard to add attacking quality during the winter transfer period, per Joe Mewis of the Mirror:

"

Goals are the most important thing, we have to always look for solutions to make goals.

We are doing that but we have to look for the solutions in our selection, that’s important.

Maybe we have solutions elsewhere but that’s more difficult, because in January clubs shall not let go of players who score.

"

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James would certainly add threat to the attack at Old Trafford, but the addition of Kroos would see United attain true creativity in the centre of the park.

According to Frederic Hermel on Spanish TV show El Chiringuito (h/t Malyon), the German World Cup hero has told his agent, Volker Struth, to negotiate a transfer away from the Bernabeu. 

United have previously tried to sign the brilliant midfielder and had a "deal in principle" in place to capture Kroos from Bayern Munich, per Malyon. The player is said to be frustrated at Madrid and is "tired of life" at Los Merengues.

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James and Kroos represent the calibre of player United fans crave to see at the club as both are world-class talents who are about to come into their peak in the years ahead. 

The key to United's progression lies in attracting creative talents, and the two Madrid midfielders would bring this in spades.

However, Van Gaal must allow his flair individuals to play a more open style as his tactics often suffocate a game—both for his players and the opposition.

James and Kroos would need space to operate at an optimum, but in LvG's side, they could suffer as territory and possession outweigh the importance of goals and entertainment.