Kroos Denies Manchester United Transfer as Contract Feud Continues

Toni Kroos rejected the notion of a transfer to Manchester United, some of his first comments on his contract situation with Bayern Munich since the topic arose in January.

"There was a lot of speculation, but Manchester is and was not and an issue," Kroos told Bild. "I assume that I will play at Bayern next season, and now I want to concentrate fully and completely on the World Cup."

Volker Struth, Kroos's agent, confirmed that there was no official bid from Manchester United for his client's services. He has long stipulated that Kroos would play until at least 2015.

"There is no official contract offer," said Struth. "There is no need to make an official offer because Kroos will play at Bayern until at least 2015."

With a transfer no longer a distraction, the negotiation between Bayern and Kroos on a contract extension still persists. Bayern president Karl Hopfner told kicker earlier this week that Bayern "will not exceed certain financial boundaries." Kroos responded to Hopfner's line in the sand with further comments to Bild:

"I didn't assume anything different. I have to accept and respect that. But in fairness, I also don't assume anything different because I rejected the club's offer at the beginning of the year."

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the club's website that his aim has always been to extend Kroos, but he is prepared to move in another direction. Bayern's midfield is still relatively packed, with Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez, and Bastian Schweinsteiger all needing playing time, so Pep Guardiola's usage of Kroos might determine whether the midfielder will stay or go.