According to reports in The Independent, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho's first-choice midfield target this summer is Real Madrid's Toni Kroos, rated at £72m by Transfermarkt.

What's the word, then?

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - February 10, 2018   Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos celebrates scoring their third goal         REUTERS/Sergio Perez

Well, Mourinho is seeking to strengthen the Red Devils midfield this summer with Paul Pogba struggling when asked to play alongside Nemanja Matic in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Michael Carrick retiring at the end of the season and with continued doubts over the futures of Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera.

The Independent says that the player he wants to bring in to strengthen in the middle of the park is Kroos, with the club already having a long-standing interest in the Germany international having tried to sign him before he joined Real Madrid in 2014.

The report adds that while he is seen as a key player at the Bernabeu, word has got around that the Champions League holders could make some high-profile sales in the summer, and the 28-year-old could be one of those to go if they receive a respectable offer.

How has Kroos done this season?

He has been one of Real's standout players in what has been a largely disappointing campaign – especially in La Liga.

The 28-year-old has scored four goals and provided a further seven assists in 29 appearances in all competitions, and he continues to be a key player for the Spanish giants either from a central or defensive midfield role.

According to WhoScored.com, the Germany international has a passing accuracy of 92.9% across 25 appearances in La Liga and the Champions League this season, while he has made 62 key passes and successfully completed 18 of the 25 dribbles he has attempted.

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/fm2mc-aleximkhi.mp4

Would he be a good signing for United?

He certainly would be.

The 28-year-old would be the ideal missing piece of the puzzle if Mourinho wanted to play a three-man midfield of him, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, and there is arguably no better player in the world in his position than Kroos.

Considering he will still have four years left on his contract this summer, it would likely take a huge offer to convince Real to sell, and that could be United's big problem in bringing him to Old Trafford.