Liverpool Transfer News: Mario Gotze Exit Encouraged Amid Bayern Munich Rumours

Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has encouraged Mario Gotze to leave the club in order to get minutes on the pitch elsewhere, saying "we made everything clear to Mario" that he has no future at the club.

He told German magazine Kicker (h/t Stephan Uersfeld of ESPN FC): "We made everything clear to Mario. He knows what the club thinks and he knows what the future coach thinks. Mario has to consider for himself whether he wants to constantly get minutes."

Per Christof Kneer and Birgit Shonau of Suddeutsche Zeitung (h/t another Uersfeld article), incoming boss Carlo Ancelotti told Gotze over the phone that he would not feature in his plans, but the midfielder told Bild on Monday his aim was to stay put and fight for a place in the side—a position Rummenigge evidently hopes he will reconsider.

Gotze's contract expires in 2017, so if the club have no plans to use him next season, it's understandable they'd want to cash in on him now, rather than pay him for another year and allow him to leave for free.

Bundesliga expert Clark Whitney believes Gotze could still reignite his career under the Italian but thought there would be no way back after a difficult spell under Pep Guardiola, as he struggled for form, fitness and the club's confidence:

There have been yet more twists in the tale, though, with Whitney noting on Monday the playmaker had changed agents:

Indeed, according to Kicker (h/t Uersfeld), in changing agents, Gotze's reported move to Liverpool fell through—"a €25 million move had been agreed by his former representatives Sports Total, and would have bumped up his wages to €12 million a year."

Sport Witness offered a theory on the increasingly bizarre saga:

Per the Guardian, Germany manager Joachim Low has also been quizzed on Gotze's situation, and he believes the 23-year-old is right to stay and fight for his place in the team. He said:

"

He’s had a long talk with Ancelotti and I think a few falsities were said about that, but a coach can never give a guarantee and he told Mario that everybody starts from scratch from the start of the season under him.

Mario has had offers, but I always felt he is in Munich with his heart and he wants to prove himself there.

He told me he wants to stay in Munich and take his chance with the new coach and I think that’s a fine decision because it’s what his feeling tells him to do, so it’s the right decision for him.

"

Beyond making it clear to him he may feature little if he stays, there is perhaps little Bayern can do to force him out the door before his contract is up.

Liverpool should nevertheless attempt to capitalise on the situation—he's evidently not wanted by the Bavarians, so getting a bid accepted shouldn't be a problem, and assurances he would be their main man under Jurgen Klopp could sound increasingly tempting as the summer wears on if Bayern's stance hasn't changed.

Despite a disappointing season, Gotze would be a real marquee capture for the Reds and a significant upgrade on Adam Lallana, but it's clear there is more still to come in this ongoing saga.