Liverpool Transfer News: Reds Given Max Kruse Boost, Fresh Leon Goretzka Rumours

Liverpool's chances of landing reported target and Werder Bremen forward Max Kruse have improved after the club's president suggested his star could leave. Elsewhere, the Reds are reportedly one of numerous clubs vying for Schalke's Leon Goretzka.

James Cambridge of the Daily Express wrote that Liverpool are interested in Kruse and cited a report from German newspaper Bild, which asserted Werder "will not stand in the striker’s way should he want to leave."

Bremen manager Frank Baumann was also quizzed on whether Kruse would remain with the club, to which he replied: "There’s no guarantee - you only get a guarantee with Tupperware."

Liverpool have already added attackers Mohamed Salah and Dominic Solanke to their squad this summer, and Sport Witness previously reported on the raft of English interest in Bundesliga veteran Kruse:

The 29-year-old is coming off the back of the most prolific season of his career to date, having netted 15 goals and recorded seven assists after scoring only nine for Wolfsburg the campaign prior to that.

Marc Williams of the Daily Star also cited a report from Bild, which said that while Kruse's old release clause has expired, Werder Bremen would allow the player to leave if their £16 million valuation is met.

Daniel Sturridge's place as Liverpool's starting striker is no longer cemented as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to take his team to the next level, although some might debate whether Kruse is an upgrade for the current Reds squad.

Bild also reported Liverpool are competing against Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid for the signature of Schalke dynamo Goretzka, whose contract at the Veltins-Arena expires next summer (h/t the Daily Star's Williams).

The nine-times capped Germany international has built a reputation for himself as one of the Bundesliga's most well-rounded emerging midfielders, and WhoScored.com detailed his strengths in pressured football:

Those sort of attributes and the ability to maintain a strong front in opposition territory would be expected to fit in well with the plans of Reds chief Klopp, who has already shown a taste toward recruiting from his native Germany.

However, Bundesliga writer Clark Whitney recently elaborated upon the other Premier League suitors hunting to recruit Goretzka, adding the crucial detail of Bayern Munich's alleged intervention:

Goretzka has since come out to deny any pre-agreement with the reigning Bundesliga champions and posted to his official Facebook account in May (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts):

"I want to give a brief response to the latest reports in the press. There are a lot of rumours, speculation, reports, but I can assure you that they are all false.

"I will give you all the facts once a final decision has been made."

Liverpool are ready to make their return to the UEFA Champions League next season and can therefore use that as bait to tempt elite targets to Anfield this summer.

BBC Sport's Juliette Ferrington sourced Bild and reported Liverpool saw a €75 million (£66 million) bid for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita rejected, and Goretzka could make for a worthy alternative.