The arrival of Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool coupled with the relative struggles of Mario Götze in Munich has somewhat inevitably lead to suggestions that the pair could reunite at Anfield in the near future. While a January move is highly unlikely, this has the potential to be one of the biggest transfer stories of the summer and is certainly one that could really capture the imagination on Merseyside.
Mario Götze’s career so far is one that is quite difficult to sum up. On one hand he has won the Bundesliga in four of the last five seasons, emerged as one of European football’s brightest young talents and came off the bench to score the most important goal in the past five years when he netted the winner in the 2014 World Cup Final.
Not bad for someone who is still only 23 yet Götze still has his critics and there is the lingering feeling that there is more to come from the midfielder who appeared to have the world at his feet when he made the €37 million move from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2013 just weeks after the pair had met in the UEFA Champions League final.
Struggling to stand out
At the Allianz Arena, surrounded by great players his talents haven’t quite stood out as dramatically as they did in Dortmund. Under Pep Guardiola, he has been an important player but by no means an automatic pick and his World Cup final goal has perhaps helped shield him from the fact that he is yet to make the transition from wonderkid to consistent world class performer.
With Bayern Munich hesitating on offering Götze a new deal, this summer could be a defining time in the career of the young German, who hasn’t played since early October due to injury. Now a regular starter for the national side, he could write his name into German football folklore forever if he can inspire his side to triumph in another major tournament this June.
His club future is less certain though with Guardiola departing Munich and a new man coming in, who may or may not see Götze as key to his plans. With the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery into their 30s and approaching the end of their careers, it is a little odd that Bayern haven’t made more effort to tie Götze down beyond the summer of 2017 when his current deal expires.
Given some of the other younger players at Bayern have penned long-term contracts in recent months, Götze might have some reason to question just how highly he is valued at the club and at the very least is likely to be open to thinking about any interest that might come in.
Little doubt about his quality
There can be little doubt that Götze would improve Liverpool, particularly with his former manager at the helm and unlike some of Liverpool’s recent signings he should be able to adapt quickly to a style that is obviously similar to the one that Klopp employed in Dortmund.
He would be a real marquee signing for the club and his links with Klopp might give Liverpool the edge if he became available although there would certainly be competition for his signature.
We are still some way off that, though. Götze hasn’t actually done a great deal wrong during his time in Munich and his goal return of 29 in two and a half seasons is very healthy given he has missed plenty of games due to injury.
Future could depend on Ancelotti
A lot could depend on Carlo Ancelotti’s take on the player but it would still be big surprise were Bayern to allow Götze to leave. He is still developing as a player but remains the most promising of Bayern’s young Germans so you have to wonder why they would let a player who has the potential to be the heartbeat of the side for the next decade move on.
Despite his relatively stagnated progress, Götze has already shown more than enough to suggest he would be an excellent signing for almost any club in Europe and Bayern could live to regret any decision to let him go.
Written by Mark Sochon
Follow Mark on Twitter @tikitakagol
Check out his brilliant blog on all things La Liga, Tiki-Taka-Gol!
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