Why this World Cup winner reportedly wants a switch to Liverpool

German World Cup winner Mario Gotze is reportedly eyeing a switch to Liverpool. According to the Express, the 26-year-old came close to joining the Reds last summer but a deal couldn’t be reached. 

Instead Jurgen Klopp opted for Xherdan Shaqiri from Stoke City, who was a much cheaper option and a seasoned Premier League campaigner.

The Swiss has added some tooth to the attack, though, providing another dimension to the already existing trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. 

The quartet have led the Reds goal hunt with 50 strikes – the second most in the Premier League behind Manchester City.  However, if latest reports is anything to go by, then Klopp could land his compatriot for a cut-price deal this winter.

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Gotze was an influential part of Germany’s World Cup winning squad in 2014 and even notched the winner against Argentina in the final. But since that historic triumph, the playmaker’s stock has suffered gradual decline. 

He missed out of the last World Cup in Russia and has been something of a ghost these days at North Rhine-Westphalia. Current Dortmund boss Lucien Favre seem not be a fan of the ex-Bayern Munich prodigy.

No wonder he’s managed just five Bundesliga starts for the league leaders. The likes of Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus have been preferred instead. That’s not to say Gotze’s remarkable football traits has disappeared. 

On his day, the German oozes quality with his technical ability and superb dribbling skills. He is capable of that killer pass and could take aim himself when the opportunity present itself. Gotze is desperate to relaunch his career after several redundant years.

And what better way than under the manager who handed him his senior debut at the age of 17 in 2009, which made him the ninth youngest debutant in the history of the Bundesliga.