Liverpool are the huge favourites to sign Schalke midfield goal machine Leon Goretzka amid reports they have an agreement to sign him in January.
Spanish outlet Don Balon claim that the Germany international, 22, want to move to Anfield and the green light has already been given for a deal that would cost less than £36million.
It is said that Barcelona have tabled low offers for the goalscoring midfielder but he “does not want to know” about them as he sets his sights on a winter move to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Bet Victor have priced Liverpool as the 6/4 favourites to land Goretzka in the January transfer window, a long way ahead of Arsenal (6/1) and Bayern Munich (8/1), the next best priced clubs, in the betting.
Goretzka has been in outstanding form for club and country this season, although he has missed Schalke’s last four matches through injury.
Good move for Liverpool?
Goretzka is not just a rising star of German football, he is an established one. He has already made 128 appearances for Schalke as well as 12 for the Germany senior team, which have yielded six goals, a huge number for a central midfielder. The youngster is something of a goal machine, striking four times from 10 Schalke appearances this season, including in each of his last three Bundesliga matches. Goretzka is good enough to walk straight into Liverpool’s side and interest in him comes at a time when the club are preparing for the exit of Emre Can, who is out of contract next summer and is locked in a stalemate with club chiefs over the terms of a new deal. Liverpool fans would be delighted if they could mitigate the loss of Can by landing his fellow German.
This Is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
Liverpool have signed a number of players from the Bundesliga under their German manager Klopp, with Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and imminent 2018 arrival Naby Keita all making the same journey, and the club’s concentration on this market suggests a deal is highly possible. With Goretzka also out of contract next summer, he will be available at a bargain price in January. There is intense competition for his signature, but the Klopp factor could prove key for a player who appears to have made it his mission to move to the Premier League.
This Is Futbol rating 5/10