Mario Götze: Borussia Dortmund open to re-signing Liverpool transfer target

Jürgen Klopp is rumoured to be interested in a reunion with the 23-year-old midfielder

Mark Critchley
Tuesday 26 April 2016 10:23 EDT
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Gotze, pictured during his time at Dortmund
Gotze, pictured during his time at Dortmund (GETTY IMAGES)

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Borussia Dortmund’s chief executive has publicly acknowledged that the club are open to re-signing Mario Götze.

The Germany international, who has also been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, left Signal Iduna Park and his boyhood club for Bayern Munich in 2013, as part of a £31.5million deal.

Götze, who famously scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final, has struggled to establish himself in Bavaria since his move and, this season, has seen his playing time hampered by injury.

Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp, who coached Götze during his time at Dortmund, is said to be keen on a reunion with the 23-year-old midfielder at Anfield.

However, Hans-Joachim Watzke, Dortmund’s chief executive, would provide his former head coach with competition for Götze’s signature.

“If Mario Götze comes on the market… we would discuss it,” Watzke admitted while speaking at a conference on Monday. That's quite clear.

“He has been through all the youth teams with us,” he added. “He is held in the greatest esteem.”

Dortmund’s supporters may provide the biggest obstacle against Götze returning to Westphalia.

Earlier this month, with reports of a return first surfaced, fans at Signal Iduna Park unveiled a banner reading: “Milan or Madrid – the main thing is not Dortmund! P*** off Götze.”

Watzke insisted that the views of supporters would be taken into account if the club considered re-signing Gotze.

"The thing is, we have to take our fans seriously. Especially those who are always there, their view is critical.”

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