Reports have suggested Leon Goretzka has decided which club he will join when his Schalke contract expires at the end of the season. The 22-year-old has not told Schalke he will leave the club amidst mounting speculation of the Germany midfielder joining Bayern Munich.
Goretzka is available on a free transfer this summer, and therefore his capture would be something of a coup for whichever club manages to get the deal done. There were previous reports that the German’s preferred destination was Liverpool, while he has also been linked with a host of leading European clubs, including Manchester United, Barcelona and Juventus.
So it came as a blow to all when reports surfaced that German champions Bayern Munich had agreed on a deal to sign him. The Marca added that Bayern actually secured his signature months ago. Despite those Bayern reports, Schalke chief Christian Heidel says that no deal has been done.
“Leon has not informed us that he has decided to leave. I trust Leon and his adviser, with whom I was in contact with yesterday,” Heidel was quoted in a report by Mirror.
The midfielder’s agent has further spoken out to deny the speculation in a mega boost for Goretzka’s other suitors.
“When the decision has been made, Leon and I will inform Schalke first of all,” Jorg Neubauer told Sport1.
This would come as a big sigh of relief for Klopp, who reportedly wants Goretzka to join his forces at Anfield next summer. Liverpool are said to have eyed up Goretzka, 22, as a potential replacement for Philippe Coutinho. A bid rests on whether or not Barcelona come to an agreement with Liverpool over the Brazilian.
Incidentally, the Germany international is an alternative transfer target for Barcelona if Liverpool hold their ground on Coutinho.
Goretzka has helped Schalke to the lofty heights in the Bundesliga with 4 goals in 11 appearances this season on the back of a superb showing in Germany’s Confederations Cup triumph.
A stress fracture in his lower leg, however, has interrupted his progress of late and the midfielder has been sidelined since the first week of December 2017.
Klopp looks more ready to spend the required funds after Liverpool agreed to make Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk the most expensive defender in the world, in what was a £75million deal.
