REAL MADRID
Zidane refuses to confirm if Kroos will be at Real Madrid next season
Toni Kroos has denied media reports that he is set to leave Real Madrid but boss Zinedine Zidane was less committal about his future.
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane refused to confirm whether Toni Kroos will still be at the club next season, stating "there will be changes" at the end of the campaign.
Kroos on Friday used Twitter to describe media reports he is planning to leave the club as "absolutely false information".
The Germany international has been a key player for Madrid since joining from Bayern Munich in 2014, with Los Blancos winning the Champions League in each of the last three seasons.
Madrid are expected to spend heavily in the transfer market following Zidane's return, with Premier League players Paul Pogba, Eden Hazard and Christian Eriksen all reportedly targets, as well as Paris Saint-Germain forwards Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. They are planning on offloading a number of players also.
Kroos' first-team opportunities could be restricted by new arrivals and, while saying that he is a fan of the 29-year-old, Zidane could not confirm whether he would still be at the Santiago Bernabeu for 2019-20.
Speaking ahead of Madrid's LaLiga clash with Leganes on Monday, Zidane said: "Toni is a key player. He's been at Madrid five years and has done great things.
"He's a great player that brings calm. I've always liked him. Everyone speaks about Toni, and other players, in terms of whether I want them or not.
Things will be changing says Zidane
"Every player is good and important. There will be changes but not right now, at the end of the season."
Another player whose future at the club remains unclear is Gareth Bale.
The Wales international has struggled to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo this season and appears likely to move on at the end of the campaign, although Bale's agent says he wants to stay.
Zidane would not be drawn on Bale's long-term future either, though, only saying he is expected to play an important role in the closing weeks of a season that is petering out for Madrid.
"There are seven games left," he said. "Let's see how we play. There will be changes but Gareth is part of the team."
Zidane's men are third in LaLiga, five points behind their city rivals Atletico Madrid, who eased past Celta Vigo 2-0 on Saturday.