Liverpool FC Transfer News: Mario Gotze Reds’ Top Summer Target

One of the brightest talents of his generation? Check. Former Borussia Dortmund star who still keeps in touch with Jürgen Klopp? Check. Player who has fallen out of favour at his current club and is refusing to sign a new deal? Also check.

Put it all together, and it’s hardly a surprise that 23-year old Bayern Munich attacker Mario Gotze has been heavily linked with a Liverpool move this week. Reports in Germany say he’s set on leaving Bayern Munich this summer. And the rumour mongers in England say he’s Liverpool’s top target.

As yet, there has been little from more reliable sources with ties to the club to suggest that’s actually the case, but given Klopp’s history with Gotze, his talent and age, and that things seem to have gone rather wrong for him at Bayern, and it’s a rumour that at least feels like it could be true.

Gotze made his name as one of Germany’s brightest young talents at Dortmund under Klopp following his arrival there in 2007, but when Bayern came calling in 2013 he couldn’t resist the lure of Germany’s premier club. He moved to Munich for a hefty €37M transfer fee.

And, for two seasons at least, things were going well. The budding superstar made more than 90 appearances in all competitions in 2013-14 and 2014-15, spending time at just about every position in attack and midfield and scoring 30 goals. He seemed on the verge of becoming one of Europe’s biggest stars.

This season, a hamstring injury and a rumoured falling out with manager Pep Guardiola—he left a now fully fit Gotze out of the lineup entirely over the weekend—have derailed that. Meanwhile, with just a year left on his contract after the current season ends, reports out of Germany claim he is resisting signing a new deal.

Despite that, national team manager Joachim Low says the young star will still have a major role to play for Germany at this summer’s Euros. It may take until the end of them before his future beyond this summer’s big tournament becomes clear.