Simon Jones:
Liverpool are confident of landing Germany World Cup winner Mario Gotze in a cut-price £20million deal.
The Bayern Munich midfielder has privately indicated that he would be willing to link up with Jurgen Klopp again with whom he worked so well at Borussia Dortmund.
Germany manager Joachim Low last week revealed he had advised Gotze to speak to incoming Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti before making any decision about leaving in the summer though team-mate Thomas Muller said he could understand Gotze’s frustrations at a lack of game time
Bayern value Gotze at around £30m but the fact he has one year left on contract has given Liverpool hope they can prise away one of Europe’s most talented players who is still only 23.
Liverpool remain keen to add a left back too with Cologne’s Jonas Hector, Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell and Raphael Guerreiro of Lorient on their list.
They are also continuing to discuss a move for Udinese midfielder Piotr Zielinski who has been on loan at Empoli.
Gotze, who scored the winning goal in extra-time for Germany against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final, has played only 12 times for Bayern Munich this season.
A reunion with Klopp at Anfield would greatly strengthen Liverpool’s attacking options, and fans will be excited at the prospect of him linking up with Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho.
Gotze enjoyed a successful spell at Dortmund with Klopp, playing an instrumental role in the club’s two Bundesliga titles.
He helped them reach the 2013 Champions League final, where they lost to Bayern Munich – who Gotze would later join – 2-1 at Wembley.
The 23-year-old came on for the last ten minutes of Germany’s 3-2 loss to England in Berlin on Saturday.
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