Liverpool Transfer News: Pep Guardiola, Jan Molby Address Mario Gotze Rumours

Rumours linking Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze with a move to Liverpool continue to swirl, and both Bayern manager Pep Guardiola and Reds legend Jan Molby have weighed in on the ongoing saga.

Guardiola has been partially responsible for creating the saga by handing Gotze limited minutes, but he told reporters he believes the former Borussia Dortmund star still has a future at the Allianz Arena, per Mark Critchley of the Independent:

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I have a lot of respect for Mario and for his career so far. Of course I know what he can do. My opinion about him does not change because of one good or bad game. Mario can play in any formation, I could have played him in the match versus Cologne, but I preferred to play more midfielders.

I want the best for Mario. He can still succeed at Bayern. And he is a great guy. He deserves the best.

"

Per WhoScored.com, Gotze has started just five Bundesliga matches all season, as Guardiola continues to pick other players over the Germany international for his starting XI.

A serious injury hasn't helped matters, but even against Cologne, when the team was desperate for a goal and his team-mates were still recovering from the 120-minute marathon match against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, the 23-year-old was forced to watch the action unfold from the bench.

Gotze's career has stagnated since he joined the Bavarians from Dortmund, but he has flashed his potential on occasion, as you can see in the video below:

Bleacher Report UK's Clark Whitney believes Gotze is quickly running out of time to prove he belongs at the Allianz Arena, and he's not the only one. Transfer speculation has been rampant as a result, and with former manager Jurgen Klopp now in charge at Anfield, it's easy to see why some often tout the Reds as a strong suitor for his services.

In a column he wrote for the Liverpool Echo, Molby weighed in on the rumours, urging the club to take a chance on the midfielder:

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It can be hard at Bayern Munich. It’s a winning machine, like Liverpool in the 1970s and 80s, and if you don’t do it for a few games then they’ll bring in someone else. Gotze’s had injuries and he’s had dips in form, and he’s lost his way slightly.

But Klopp has had him firing before. At Dortmund he was irresistible. You can say it would be a gamble if Liverpool were to get him, but he’s 23, and has massive ability.

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When Bayern splashed the cash on Gotze in 2013, he was widely regarded as one of the top young attacking midfielders in the world, playing a massive role in Dortmund's rise to the top of the Bundesliga pecking order and their improved performances in Europe.

Blessed with strong dribbling skills, superb vision and a knack for playing key passes at the right time, he looked like the prototypical attacking midfielder who can dive into the box, distribute play from a less advanced position and contribute to the scoring as well.

Raw pace was never his biggest asset, but with his strong technical abilities, he more than held his own out wide as well. He still does when called upon. A switch may be just what he needs to revitalise his career, and per Bleacher Report UK, Liverpool would present a fantastic landing spot:

Klopp is expected to be active during the summer transfer window, overhauling the squad and bringing in players he knows will fit his system that's built around pressure and counter-attacking football.

He knows Gotze can be effective in such a system―he was while the two worked together at the Signal Iduna Park. And while the Reds have plenty of talent who can play behind the main striker, Gotze is a special player with the potential to be better than even the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.

Sky Sports News HQ took a look at his numbers from the past few seasons, and it's remarkable how easily he found the net as a youngster:

Bayern know how talented Gotze is, and with Guardiola set to depart the club, with Carlo Ancelotti replacing him, there's a good chance the trickster is in line for an increased role if he stays at the Allianz Arena.

Expect plenty of clubs to give the Bavarians a call during the summer, however, and Liverpool to be among them.

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