Toni Kroos has thrown his weight behind Konrad Laimer in the Austrian midfielder's ongoing contract standoff with Bayern Munich. The former Bayern legend, who departed for Real Madrid in 2014, warned the club not to undervalue a key performer the way they undervalued him at the time.
Speaking on the Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Kroos made an impassioned plea for Bayern's hierarchy. "You mustn't underestimate the importance of paying even a euro to players who don't score 40 goals!" he said. Kroos knows this territory intimately—he left Munich for around €30 million with just twelve months remaining on his deal, a move that haunted the club as he blossomed into one of Europe's finest midfielders at the Bernabéu.
The Salary Gap Widens
Laimer's extension talks have stalled as the gap between Bayern's offer and the midfielder's demands continues to grow. According to Sky reports, the 28-year-old is seeking €15 million per season, up from his current €10 million annual package including bonuses. His contract expires in 2027, but Bayern risk losing him for nothing if no agreement materializes before next summer's transfer window.
Bayern president Uli Hoeneß has taken a measured stance, suggesting the club will no longer rubber-stamp every player request to retain talent. "Very few clubs in Europe can even offer what he currently earns," Hoeneß told DAZN, adding that Laimer is "not Maradona." However, the club's strategy carries risk—the Austrian international has established himself as indispensable to Bayern's midfield engine, delivering consistency and tactical versatility across multiple positions.
Free Transfer Precedent
Laimer himself arrived at the Allianz Arena on a free transfer from RB Leipzig in 2023, a fact director Max Eberl referenced when asked about the potential cost of losing him. "He came on a free transfer, so we wouldn't lose much," Eberl said with surprising nonchalance. Yet this logic masks a deeper problem: replacing a midfielder of Laimer's caliber would require substantial investment, far exceeding any transfer fee negotiation.
Bayern faces a critical decision heading into the final stretch of the season. Securing Laimer on improved terms remains possible if both sides can bridge the gap, but every week without resolution pushes closer toward the summer deadline. Kroos's intervention underscores how Bayern's hesitation mirrors their past miscalculations with elite talent—a lesson the German champions cannot afford to repeat in their pursuit of sustained domestic and European dominance.
