Liverpool Waits for the Goretzka Shoe to Drop

Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka is either definitely coming to Liverpool, to one of our domestic or would-be European rivals, or signing a fat new contract with his home club. To say that there are rumors swirling about the 22-year-old German international is an understatement.

Off the back of—and I still can’t believe I get to write these next words—world record-breaking signing of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, pundits and folks who make stuff up in tabloids assume that Liverpool are in pole position to sign Goretzka.

Of course, the two matters are completely unrelated. Goretzka, we can assume (like our very own Emre Can), has likely made up his mind about his future months ago. It is no secret that Liverpool are interested. Nor is it a secret that Jürgen Klopp is a very real draw for young talent, especially from Germany.

Given the apparent fit into Klopp’s system, plus his nationality, plus Liverpool’s real and perceived return to prominence in Europe, plus the very likely departure of the aforementioned Can, Goretzka’s signing seems like the natural conclusion.

Goretzka (who at this point, I’ll be annoyed if he doesn’t come, because that spelling is not an easy one to memorize), for his part, indicated he would be making his decision in January. Well, we’re waiting.

If beating the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea to Van Dijk was a statement of intent, this would only confirm what those of us in Red-tinted glasses already know: Klopp is building something special on Merseyside. But for now, we can only fantasize about Goretzka and Naby Keita in the midfield, ahead of a dominant Van Dijk, gegenpressing the shit out of England and Europe next season.

Come on, Leon, you know you want to.