Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours Following Reds' Win vs. Stoke

Liverpool look certain to add to their squad after their victorious start to the new Premier League campaign, with rumours the Anfield giants could move for Germany World Cup winner Mario Gotze and Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi.

Louis Sealey of Metro quotes the Bayern Munich player's agent, Volker Struth, speaking to Tuttosport about his client's time in Bavaria and confirmed both player and club have not ruled out a potential transfer away from the Bundesliga champions:

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Mario has made it clear that his last two seasons have not been idyllic. However, it’s also true that no club has come forward with an offer. Bayern have not ruled out a possible transfer, just as we won’t rule out any possible opportunity, to stay or go abroad. There’s still a long way to go until the end of the transfer window, so anything can still happen.

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Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Sealey says Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has been "tracking" the prodigious talent—who signed for Bayern from Borussia Dortmund in 2013—and the latest quotes will surely enthuse the Anfield giants to enquire about his availability. 

However, the player recently spoke about his commitment to Pep Guardiola's side during pre-season, commenting to ZDF Television (h/t Daily Mirror's James Whaling): 

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From my side, I can say that I'm happy to play here, with these fans, with this club—it's a fantastic job. I'm very happy with everything around me and with the things that happen here, but there are always two sides to everything.

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But Gotze has also cited his relationship with Guardiola as problematic, as reported by Goal.com's Miles Chambers:

Gotze was Germany's hero in the 2014 World Cup final, scoring the winning goal to capture the famous gold trophy for his country. 

However, the 23-year-old has not always been Guardiola's first choice in Bayern's matches last year. Gotze started 37 games in the Bundesliga and Champions League last term, per WhoScored.com, scoring 13 goals from his attacking position. 

Germany legend Lothar Matthaus recently criticised the player, and fellow dynamic youngster Julian Draxler, saying both "are missing something" in their development, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Rupert Fryer of Goal). 

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They're good, young, technical. But they do not have the character of champions. They are always missing something to reach 100 percent. If you are Gotze and you are not playing, you go up to the coach and impose yourself. But that does not happen.

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It would be a surprise to see Gotze swap the red of Bayern for that of Liverpool, but Rodgers appears intent on strengthening his squad with players bursting with potential. 

Abdeljalil Bounhar/Associated Press

Also on the coach's radar is long-term target Illarramendi, whose time in the Spanish capital appears to be at an end. 

James Orr of the Independent says the Spaniard has been told he is "surplus to requirements" at the Bernabeu, triggering a possible £15 million switch to Anfield. 

The midfielder signed for the Galacticos in 2013 for £22 million—at that time, a record amount spent on a Spanish-born signing by Madrid—per Orr. 

But the player has failed to develop under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti, and it now seems Rafael Benitez might sell the player to his former Merseyside club.

The midfielder made just 10 starts for Madrid in La Liga last term, per WhoScored, making 20 additional appearances off the bench.

Both Gotze and Illarramendi would be excellent signings for Rodgers, as the coach looks to strengthen his options for the long campaign ahead.  Gotze is a player who was the brightest young talent in world football just two years ago, and it would be a major coup by Liverpool to capture his signature.

But if Gotze comes onto the market, all of the major teams in European football will consider chasing him, and the Reds might get lost in the pack as the superclubs of the Premier League come knocking. 

Illarramendi is a much more realistic target, and at £15 million, he would be a steal. The Spaniard needs a run of games to realise his enormous potential, and Liverpool would be the perfect place for him to learn his trade.