Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Götze. (Photo : Getty Images)
Reports are out that English Premier League side Liverpool FC is close to signing FC Bayern Munich's Mario Götze for £20 million in the "next few days".
The Sun reported that Jürgen Klopp is hoping to "mop up" the deal for the 23-year-old World Cup-winning midfielder "in next few days" as the Liverpool boss is said to be "keen to get their transfer business done quickly".
Klopp was Götze's former coach during his stint with Borussia Dortmund from 2009 to 2013. The Germany international began his senior career with the Borussians in November 2009 as he was also a product of the Bundesliga side's youth academy.
Caught Offside noted that Klopp was the Memmingen, Germany native's guide during "his formative years at Borussia Dortmund, helping to attune the forward's talents before his high-profile switch to Bayern".
After four seasons at the Signal Iduna Park, he was then transferred to the Allianz Arena in the summer of 2013 for a fee of £28 million. The deal made him the most expensive German footballer in history at that time as it was quickly broken by Mesut Özil's £38 million move to Arsenal later that summer.
The report mentioned that Klopp wanted this summer's deal with Götze, who is reportedly recuperating from an injured rib, and all of the Reds' summer transfer "key targets" already settled before the start of Euro 2016 where the German midfielder is set to represent his country.
The German manager also said that he "doesn't want players who demand Champions League football to move to Anfield". Liverpool missed the chance to participate in the said European club continental competitions next season after they lost to Sevilla, 1-3, in the Europa League final at the St. Jakob-Park on May 18.
Götze had been under-utilized by current Bayern coach Pep Guardiola during his three-season stay in Bavaria. It is especially true in this season's domestic top flight as he only scored three times in 14 games for the Bundesliga champions.
In three seasons, Götze only had 36 goals in a total of 114 appearances in all competitions for the incoming Manchester City head coach.
In his last season under Klopp in Dortmund, he netted 10 times in 28 games in the German top flight competitions.
