Liverpool Reportedly Lose Mario Götze Chase

According to multiple reports from club-connected journalists, Liverpool have made 23-year-old Bayern Munich attacker Mario Götze one of their top summer transfer targets and were already at work towards securing his signature. Now, it appears almost certain they won’t get him.

That’s because it appears that when faced with the choice between joining his old boss, Jürgen Klopp, in England or of returning to his old club, Borussia Dortmund, in Germany, the prodigiously talented multipurpose attacker decided he would rather stay in the Bundesliga and return to his former club.

At least so says respected German journalist Raphael Honigstein, who claims Dortmund have quietly sent out feelers and are confident that Götze wants to return. They are also confident that, given Götze’s desire to return, they hold a bargaining chip in defender Mats Hummels, who wants a Bayern move.

If Götze desired a move to Liverpool to reunite with Klopp, Hummels wouldn’t much matter—Bayern would likely prefer to sell Götze out of country anyhow, and once that was done, it would be up to Dortmund to decide if they would sell Hummels or keep an unhappy player who had requested a move.

If Götze wants a Dortmund move, though, it gives Dortmund an edge when it comes to getting an advantageous deal done with Bayern. The one possible silver lining for Liverpool fans is that, though they are confident, Dortmund haven’t actually opened negotiations as yet with either Bayern or Götze.

While Götze might well desire a return to Dortmund right now, a win against Villarreal on Thursday and then in the Europa League final that gives Liverpool Champions League football next year might change the picture. Especially given the English club’s financial clout and ability to offer higher wages.

For now, though, it appears Dortmund have the edge. And if Liverpool don’t make it back into the Champions League for next season, it’s hard to imagine there being any chance of that changing.