Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Gotze Contract Boost, Latest Reds Rumours

Liverpool have been given a boost in their reported pursuit of Bayern Munich forward Mario Gotze after it emerged that the Bundesliga giants have no immediate plans to extend his contract past 2017.  

The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Anfield as he continues to be underplayed at the Allianz Arena and previously flourished under Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, per the Daily Telegraph.

He would add necessary verve and excitement to the Liverpool attack, and the Reds will believe they have a chance of signing him after Bayern sporting director Matthias Sammer revealed there were no plans to sign him to a new deal, per George Cooper of the Independent: "Bayern Munich are the party calling the shots. We all know how the situation is and how long his contract is running. We are in no rush and will work this out at our leisure."

However, Bleacher Report's Dean Jones recently insisted the Reds will not be able to sign him in the current window:

Per Cooper, Manchester United are reportedly interested in Gotze also, perhaps a slight blow for Liverpool, as the Red Devils can likely afford to spend more money on him and look more likely to be able to offer him Champions League football.

In a 1-0 defeat to the Red Devils on Sunday, the Reds again looked stale in attack, with neither Roberto Firmino or Christian Benteke putting in strong performances.

Gotze's combination of excellent buildup play, pace and directness could be just what Liverpool need to have more success in breaking down defences—they can often be slightly too ponderous on the ball.

The German international will surely wish to stay at Bayern for a short while, if only to work out whether he can fit into Carlo Ancelotti's setup when the Italian arrives.

However, he has called on Klopp to make his move if he wants to sign him, per Sky Sports Football:

While a January move seems unlikely, a summer departure for Gotze may well be on the cards if Ancelotti decides he is not part of his plans.

Gotze is too good a player to sit on the sideline and could be a big star at Liverpool given he would demand much more first-team action at Anfield when out of the shadows of Bayern's cache of brilliant forwards.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Another potential attacking target for Liverpool could reportedly be Swansea City's Andre Ayew.

The Ghanaian looked set for a move to Sunderland in January, but he could now look for a switch to "boyhood club Liverpool," with the Black Cats deal "far from complete," per L'Equipe (h/t the Daily Mirror, via the Daily Telegraph).

The report says Sunderland had an £11 million bid rejected, and Liverpool could afford to offer more than that if they felt Ayew would be a good addition to the squad.

The 26-year-old only moved to Swansea in the summer, and although he has shown flashes of brilliance, he would arguably not be an upgrade on Liverpool's current attackers and, thus, may not be worth pursuing.