Liverpool Transfer News: Toni Kroos Wanted, Latest Leroy Sane Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly eyeing Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, who is on a long list of players who could be on their way out of the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in 2015, according to the latest rumours.

Fichajes.net's Ernesto Gonzalez (h/t Metro's Mark Brus) claims manager Jurgen Klopp is ready to move for the Germany international, who hasn't always looked his best in manager Rafa Benitez's new system. Meanwhile, Pipi Estrada of El Chiringuito (h/t Sport's Alejandro Alcazar) suggested Real president Florentino Perez is ready to part with the 25-year-old.

The former Bayern Munich man was one of Real's top performers during the 2014-15 campaign, although his performances became less dominant as the season wore on.

He's was one of La Liga's top passers in 2015, via OptaJose:

Kroos and Luka Modric form a fantastic passing tandem in Los Blancos' midfield, but Benitez's defensive tendencies have resulted in a less advanced role for the German. Last year, he also mainly played in front of the defence, but he had far more room to work with as a playmaker.

In the new system, his impressive passing range and physical abilities are partly negated, and he sees far less of the ball around the opponents' box.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Klopp knows Kroos well, having faced him on a regular basis when in charge of Borussia Dortmund, and it's not a stretch to believe he would pounce on the opportunity to sign the midfielder should he become available.

Whether he does is a big question mark, however. Kroos only joined Los Blancos in 2014 and is still a young player, and he should be a building block for Real, not someone who's shipped out because Perez wants to rebuild his squad in an attempt to dethrone Barcelona as the dominant force in Spanish football.

Kroos himself also doesn't sound too eager to leave the Spanish capital anytime soon―if anything, he appears to feel right at home with Real, something he highlighted during a recent interview with Alberto Navarro of the club's official website:

"

There's some room for improvement and I'm certain we'll get better. We work our socks off on a daily basis and the pay off for that hard work will end up being reflected in the results. I'm positive that we'll find that consistency that is not only demanded of us by our fans, but that we too yearn for.

[…] We're not even at the half-way point in the domestic championship and we performed very well in the Champions League group stage to reach the round of 16. It's too early to be making evaluations. We are Real Madrid and being successful is part of our DNA.

"

Kroos would be a fantastic signing for the Reds, but as of right now, a transfer seems unlikely.

Schalke Rule Out Leroy Sane Sale

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Schalke 04 general manager Horst Heldt has warned the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City young starlet Leroy Sane will not be leaving the club anytime soon, as the Bundesliga club braces itself for the January transfer window.

Per MailOnline's Simon Jones, he claims even the Citizens couldn't afford the 19-year-old, saying: “We don't want to sell him and Leroy doesn't want to leave the club. Even Manchester City haven't got that much money!”

Sane is expected to be one of the most talked-about players during the winter window following an impressive first half of the 2015-16 campaign. Per WhoScored.com, he has already scored four goals and added four assists in 11 Bundesliga starts this season, flashing his impressive potential on several occasions.

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The quick forward has the versatility to play as a winger or in a central role and is still improving. Earlier this season, he made his full debut for Germany's national team, and a big future seems in store for the teenager.

Here are some of his highlights of the past few months:

Per Jones, the Reds tried to sign him during the summer and made another approach in October, but Schalke seem determined to keep hold of their prized asset, knowing full well his value will only rise in the coming years.

Despite their determination, expect to hear plenty more rumours involving Sane in the coming weeks. The youngster is too big a talent not to be the subjects of a handful of offers, and Schalke's bid to keep him in Gelsenkirchen won't be an easy one.

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