Mario Gotze rules out a winter transfer to Liverpool but remains coy over a possible reunion with Jurgen Klopp
Bayern Munich playmaker Mario Gotze has dropped a hint on his future by telling Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to “approach him” if he is interested in the German international. The pair worked together during Klopp’s time at Borussia Dortmund and still shares a good relationship with each other. However, Gotze has ruled out a move away from the Bavarian giants during the winter transfer window.
The attacking midfielder came into limelight under Klopp at Dortmund when he emerged through the ranks of the club and became one of Europe’s most sought after midfielders. However, German giants Bayern came calling for the player and he signed for the Bavarians in 2013, after they triggered his £27.5million release clause.
The 23-year-old, who scored the winning goal in Germany’s world cup final triumph over Argentina, is not a regular at Bayern and has just 18 months remaining in his contract. Liverpool will be backing Klopp to get their man and Gotze commented on the situation, “I’m under contract here until 2017. We will see what happens. No one has contacted me yet.”
Gotze rules out January move away from Bayern
Gotze is currently out of the action due to injury and is finding game-time hard to come by after the rise to form of midfield mainstays such as Arturo Vidal, Xabi Alonso and Thiago Alcantara. However, the German was confident in ruling out a move to Liverpool in the winter transfer window and added that he was baffled about where the speculations came from.
"I can rule out a move to Liverpool this winter," Gotze said. "I don't know where the rumours about Klopp and me are coming from. I have not heard anything. You should ask Klopp if he wants me at Liverpool. If he wants me, he should approach me."
"I have six nice months ahead of me. It is always annoying when you cannot play and cannot help the team. It is only normal that you think about things like that. But you have to look at the positives and build on those."
Klopp is monitoring Gotze’s current situation as he has fallen down the pecking order at Bayern under Pep Guardiola and it will be interesting to see if Carlo Ancelotti would let him go next season. Bayern's price-tag is thought to be in the region of £37m. Yet Klopp will retain a firm interest in developments.