Bayern to lend wunderkind Kroos to Bayer

Defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are to loan teenage wunderkind Tony Kroos to Bavarian rivals Bayer Leverkusen for 18 months, his club have announced.

The 19-year-old, the youngest-ever player to appear for Bayern in the German top flight, will be officially placed on the transfer list on Monday before inking a loan move to Leverkusen until 30 June 2010.

Kroos is under contract at Bayern under June 2011 and the move is designed to give the teenager more match time and experience.

The midfielder would be eligible to appear for Bayer as soon as next weekend.

Kroos has made just seven starts for Bayern in the Bundesliga and a further five as a substitute this season.

The 19-year-old was voted player of the tournament at the Under-17 World Cup in 2007, but has failed to regularly break into the Bayern first-team.

He was left behind during Bayern’s winter training camp in Dubai last month, because of an ankle injury picked up during the winter break.

Last season, Kroos earned Bayern a valuable victory on his UEFA Cup debut away to Red Star Belgrade when he came on as a substitute in the 81st minute to assist a goal for Miroslav Klose and then scored the winner.