Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Götze. (Photo : Getty Images)
English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur is set for disappointment over summer transfer target Mario Götze as the Bayern Munich midfielder is reportedly preferring a move to his former club Borussia Dortmund instead of heading to England next season.
The 24-year-old World Cup-winning goalscorer is set to "decide between offers from Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund" this summer as his agent and father had recently met with representatives from both squads, according to Daily Mail Online.
The meeting allegedly happened while Götze was out representing his homeland of Germany during the recently concluded 2016 UEFA European Championship. Die Nationalelf was upset by tournament hosts France, 0-2, in the semifinals of the said tournament.
Götze initially said that he is not keen about leaving Munich this summer as he is looking forward to playing for newly-appointed Bavarians head coach Carlo Ancelotti. However, the former Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid mentor said to have told him to spend his future elsewhere as he is not going to be a first-team choice next season.
Still, the 5-foot-9 Memmingen, Germany native insisted his desire to stay with the four-straight defending Bundesliga champions despite the promise of lesser playing opportunities.
His former Dortmund coach, and now Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp was once rumored to be interested in buying him this summer, but the Reds' recent acquisition of Sadio Mané from Southampton and their botched Champions League qualification attempt ensured that the pursuit was over.
However, Götze said to have changed his mind and is now okay with a move away from the Allianz Arena as he wants to find more first-team time. He is reportedly tagged with a £20 million release clause by Bayern and a virtual tug-of-war between Tottenham and Dortmund is rumored to be taking place at the moment.
The Spurs and Die Borussen are equally capable of paying his transfer fee and can also both provide Götze the opportunity to showcase his value in the Champions League next season.
Caught Offside indicated that the "Spurs are expected to miss out on the World Cup winner because he is leaning towards Dortmund as the best option to reignite his career". Still, Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino is said to be not surrendering his pursuit of Götze until the young midfielder reaches his final decision.
