Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Samuel Bastien Deal and Mario Gotze Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of completing a deal to sign Anderlecht youngster Samuel Bastien, but the hunt for Bayern Munich's Mario Gotze has taken a turn for the worse following claims he prefers a move to Arsenal. 

According to the Sun's Lee Astley, Liverpool are closing on a deal to recruit Bastien, 19, after scouts watched him while on loan at Serie B side Avellino last season.

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The attacking midfielder's performances in Italy earned him his first call-up to Belgium's under-21 side earlier this year, although Juventus and Fiorentina are also said to be interested.

Bastien has been compared to Manchester City marvel and Belgium compatriot Kevin De Bruyne. However, Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported Benfica's Filip Djuricic, who spent last season on loan at Anderlecht, could yet influence the youngster's next destination, per Belgian football expert John Chapman:

A season on loan at Avellino provided Bastien with an opportunity for first-team football, and he scored twice in 31 league outings as the club ran to a 14th-placed finish in Italy's second tier.

Bastien previously excelled in Anderlecht's youth ranks and featured prominently for the club's under-19s during their run to the UEFA Youth League semi-finals in 2014-15, but Liverpool appear close to snapping him up.

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The signs aren't as positive in the hunt for Bayern midfielder Gotze, however, after German newspaper SportBild alleged he regards a move to Liverpool as a "backwards step" (h/t Daily Star's Jonathan Green).

It's reported the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner also turned down a return to former club Borussia Dortmund for the same reason, and Sport Witness recently provided further insight on the matter:

Gotze's last season under departing Bayern boss Pep Guardiola was a disappointing one, but he still managed to score six goals in 21 total appearances for the club.

Thus far, the sense has been Der FCB are willing to sell, and Metro's Chris Winterburn has stated Bayern's urge to sell could yet result in a move to Anfield:

According to Green, Arsenal could be the Premier League favourites to recruit Gotze, owing to the fact they can offer UEFA Champions League football and already have Germans Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker at the club.

The playmaker's prospects at the Allianz Arena will become clearer once inbound chief Carlo Ancelotti officially assumes his role, and Reds manager Jurgen Klopp isn't likely to give up on his reunion hopes just yet.