Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mario Gotze Rumours

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly plans to use a big chunk of his £100 million summer transfer kitty to beat Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal to Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the Bundesliga club insist he is not for sale. 

According to the Sun (via Rhys Turrell in the Daily Star), the lethal striker is valued at around £60 million and Klopp is prepared to spend big on him, while the German manager's previous relationship with Aubameyang—he signed the striker for Dortmund from AS Saint-Etienne in 2013—could give Liverpool the edge over rival clubs.

However, in an attempt to ward off the interest from Liverpool—as well as United, Chelsea and the Gunners—Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has insisted the 26-year-old will not be sold at any price, per Antony Kastrinakis in the Sun:

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The position is clear. Auba plays for Borussia Dortmund and the next years he will play at Borussia Dortmund. No question. There is no get-out clause. Money is a thing that can solve all other things. But it’s not realistic. 

Clubs of the Premier League have a lot of money. But so much as to get Aubameyang? It’s a little bit difficult. It’s not question of money. We have money. We have no Sheikh. No Roman Abramovich. But we have money. We don’t need money. We need success in playing football. 

Our profession is not to make deals. Our profession is to make a good team and play football. We had all the patience in the world with Aubameyang because we saw the potential in him.

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Aubameyang's form this season has made him one of the most coveted strikers in world football as he has netted 22 goals in 24 Bundesliga matches, per WhoScored.com. 

See a selection of them below:

Liverpool would benefit hugely from having such a brilliant finisher in their side as the current set of strikers at Anfield has been largely ineffective this season.

Danny Ings remains sidelined through long-term injury, Daniel Sturridge has had regular fitness struggles and Christian Benteke has been woefully out of form.

Roberto Firmino has been excellent at times, but no Liverpool player this season has yet made it to double figures for goals, per the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce:

Per Turrell's report, Klopp believes Aubameyang's pace would make him ideal for the Premier League, and certainly he could fit better than Benteke into Liverpool's current setup as the No. 9.

The Gabon international could work very effectively alongside the likes of Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, and the fact that he is already familiar with Klopp's methods should mean he would settle easily at Anfield.

However, Dortmund seem fairly unequivocal about their desire to keep him on and Liverpool may have to look elsewhere for a new forward.

CHRISTOF STACHE/Getty Images

Turrell's report also named Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze as a potential target for Klopp, the 23-year-old another who worked under the manager previously when at Dortmund.

Since his move to Bayern in 2013, Gotze has failed to make the impact many expected, with manager Pep Guardiola using him only sparingly—he has started only four Bundesliga games this season, per WhoScored.

Under Klopp at Anfield, the Germany international would be one of Liverpool's main men, likely played both out wide on either flank and through the middle when necessary. Football writer Jack Lusby believes he should be Liverpool's No. 1 target this summer:

However, despite Klopp's previous relationship with Gotze, Liverpool may again struggle to snap him up, not least because the Reds are unlikely to be UEFA Champions League participants next season.

Furthermore, with Guardiola joining Manchester City next season and Carlo Ancelotti taking the top job at Bayern, Gotze may wait to see if he can finally claim a regular first-team spot under the new manager.