Liverpool Transfer News: Ilkay Gundogan Battle Expected, Latest Reds Rumours

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will look to exploit his knowledge of the Bundesliga next year after it emerged the Reds are hunting Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported Juventus are hoping to challenge for Gundogan's services (h/t Football Italia), and the Daily Star's Luke Gardener stated the Reds are also in for the Germany international.

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Gundogan was brought to Signal Iduna Park from Nurnberg in 2011 and has risen to become a staple of the Black and Yellows lineup as long as he's managed to maintain fitness.

A recurring spine injury held the playmaker to just a single Bundesliga appearance in the 2013-14 season, but Gundogan has made 19 starts for his club in 21 outings across all competitions this term.

It was previously suggested Gundogan could leave Dortmund on a free transfer next summer, but the 25-year-old penned a one-year contract extension to ensure any suitors will have to pay up if they want his signature.

It was former Dortmund chief Klopp who signed the central midfielder four years ago, and ESPN's Dale Johnson illustrated the player's prominence under new coach Thomas Tuchel this season:

Jordan Henderson's injury woes mean he's been a missed figure at Anfield this season, while vice-captain James Milner is fitting in well at the club and Emre Can is lining up more regularly in midfield under Klopp.

Former Swansea City anchor Joe Allen has been a peripheral figure on Merseyside over the last two years, but James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo was recently full of praise for the midfielder after the 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan:

Gundogan would make for a versatile acquisition at Anfield, a box-to-box asset capable of playing in a holding role yet still possesses the capacity for surging runs that would fit in well with a counter-based strategy.

The Reds radar recently went into overdrive for another Dortmund alumni after Lewandowski's agent confirmed to German newspaper Bild that Premier League clubs were interested in his client (h/t Mirror's James Whaling):

"It would be wrong to say there is no interest [from the Premier League]. [But] all of us should respect that Robert has a contract at FC Bayern."

Bayern undoubtedly won't have much desire to sell their forward, who has 19 goals in 18 appearances this season just as Liverpool are struggling with injuries to Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings.

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones told Marcus Speller that Sturridge is closing in on a return to fitness, however, which could affect any pursuit of Lewandowski:

It's worth noting that while a lot of money has been spent on this Liverpool team, Klopp may indeed look to make his own mark on the transfer market and bring in some players with whom he's more familiar.

It's not all that shocking to hear England's giants are alert to the services of one of the world's deadliest strikers, of course, but Klopp's Lewandowski links may just give the Reds that edge in any pursuit.