With Liverpool said to be pursuing a deal to sign Mario Gotze this summer, two of his potential team-mates have talked up a move.
Gotze has been linked with a £20 million switch to Merseyside, as he enters the final year of his contract with his current club, Bayern Munich.
This would set up a reunion between the 23-year-old and his former Borussia Dortmund manager, Jurgen Klopp, as well as a fresh start after falling down the pecking order at Bayern.
The Germany international is likely to leave the Allianz Arena this summer, and after Bayern legend Franz Beckenbauer recommended a move to “follow in the footsteps” of Klopp, both Roberto Firmino and Emre Can have endorsed the club to Gotze.
Speaking to German publication Bild this week, Firmino said Gotze would “fit in well” at Liverpool.
“I still know Gotze well from my time in Germany, when I played with Hoffenheim against Borussia Dortmund and Bayern,” he said.
“He has incredible qualities in attack.
“He would fit in well with us and will surely help us with his class also.”
Can left Bayern for Bayer Leverkusen in the same summer that Gotze arrived in a deal worth £32 million, spending a year with the Bundesliga challengers before joining Liverpool for £10 million.
The 22-year-old has since enhanced his reputation as one of Germany’s finest young talents, and has been included in Joachim Low’s preliminary 27-man squad for Euro 2016.
Also speaking to Bild ahead of Wednesday night’s Europa League final, Can said the “trust” Klopp has in his young players could see Gotze shine at the Merseyside club.
“At Bayern he is lacking a bit of confidence which is understandable,” he said.
“A move to Liverpool would be good for Mario.
“Klopp has shown this season how much trust he puts in young players. German players are popular in the Premier League.
“The fans would be very happy to see more German players in the Premier League.”
Gotze would certainly be a popular player if he joined Liverpool this summer, and the prospect of the former Dortmund attacker joining up with the likes of Can and Firmino is an attractive one.
The charm offensive has begun at Anfield, and paired with Klopp’s relationship with Gotze, this could prove influential in this summer’s negotiations.
