Liverpool, Barcelona Battle for Leon Goretzka, Announcement Expected 'Shortly'

Schalke midfielder and soon-to-be out-of-contract star Leon Goretzka will reportedly make an announcement on his future "shortly," with both Liverpool and Barcelona said to be among the front-runners for his signature. 

Tashan Deniran-Alleyne of football.london cited a report from German newspaper Bild, which said Goretzka "has been lured to Merseyside" by Reds chief Jurgen Klopp and will follow former Schalke team-mate Joel Matip to the club.

However, Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana) outlined Goretzka as Barca's "No. 1 midfield target" ahead of the January transfer window, when they will attempt to seal a cut-price deal for his services.

The conflicting reports come amid a torrent of interest from some of the continental elite. Football writer Chris Williams reported on the interested parties:

Despite being just 22, Goretzka has already made 101 Bundesliga appearances and 130 total appearances for Schalke, per Transfermarkt, having made his senior debut for the Miners after signing from Bochum in 2013.

Schalke could decide to settle for a cash deal in January rather than allowing their playmaker to leave for nothing in the summer, and the Guardian's Daniel Harris recently outlined him as a potential pick-up of big value:

The player has particular appeal as a winter recruit considering he would not be cup-tied in European competition, and his four goals in eight Bundesliga starts this season stands as evidence of his talent.

Claims of a January announcement also appear to have some credibility considering comments Goretzka made earlier in December, per James Benge of the Evening Standard, via Anfield HQ:

Liverpool may have an upper hand over Barca in reaching a January conclusion, however, as Football Espana cited Mundo and Sport, highlighting a clear-out is required in order for the Spanish titans to make their move.

The Reds, on the other hand, look more ready to spend the required funds given they've just agreed to make Southampton's Virgil van Dijk the most expensive defender in the world in a £75 million deal, per BBC Sport.

Klopp's side have already agreed to add one Bundesliga weapon to their squad in 2018 after securing a deal for RB Leipzig enforcer Naby Keita next summer, and Goretzka could arrive as another German league import.