Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Granit Xhaka and Mario Gotze Rumours

Liverpool will reportedly look to the Bundesliga to bolster their midfield this summer, with manager Jurgen Klopp tipped to bid for Borussia Monchengladbach's Granit Xhaka and Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze.

According to the Sun (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Star), Klopp will attempt to fend off competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City for Xhaka.

An ultra-physical midfield anchorman, Xhaka would solidify things in the middle for Liverpool, while offering greater protection to a suspect back four. Klopp needs that kind of balancing force to provide a platform for his litany of creative talents, schemers such as Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho.

Along with some of the more industrious midfielders already at Anfield, Xhaka would make Klopp's team tougher to break down next season. Liverpool already have a tank in the middle in the form of Emre Can, while skipper Jordan Henderson is never short of energy and tenacity.

Partnering either player with rugged Switzerland international Xhaka would give the Reds the power in the middle to go and win anywhere.

But even though his midfield isn't short of flair and technical quality, Klopp won't defer from making a move for former player Gotze. Spanish website Fichajes.net (h/t Wood) has reported Klopp has already told the club's board that Gotze "would be the perfect partner for Philippe Coutinho in midfield."

Forming that partnership will demand paying Bayern a hefty fee: "It's understood Bayern will demand at least £31.5m for the versatile attacker."

Gotze once starred for Klopp when the pair worked for Borussia Dortmund. At the time, he was part of a fluid front three where he constantly rotated positions and played his part in one-touch passing combinations.

Joining forces with Coutinho, Lallana and the brilliant Roberto Firmino, would give Gotze the chance to work with like-minded attacking talents.

Jon Super/Associated Press

This is far from the first time the idea of Klopp reuniting with his one-time star pupil has been mooted. Back in January, German publication Bild (h/t Sport Witness' Dipesh Agarwal, via Metro's Mark Brus) stated how Munich even provided Gotze with extra security amid intense speculation he would join Liverpool.

That speculation had been intensified by an interview the player gave to TZ (h/t Metro's Tom Olver) during which he appeared to court interest from Klopp.

He recently expressed a similar sentiment to Sky in Germany (h/t Daily Star's Jonathan Green). While his words aren't a direct confirmation of his interest in moving to Anfield, the fact that Gotze has twice passed up the chance to rule it out, could be suggestive.

Coupled with his history with Klopp, that refusal will ensure this rumour stays alive.

Gotze would be a hit at Anfield, assuming Klopp can get the oft-injured star back to his best form. But it's Xhaka who represents the greater need.

His tough tackling and positional discipline would make a huge difference to the way Liverpool defend next season.