Report: Liverpool increasingly optimistic of signing Gotze this summer

Liverpool is increasingly optimistic of signing Mario Gotze from Bayern Munich this summer, as the Guardian's Andy Hunter reports that Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has identified the 23-year-old attacking midfielder as his primary transfer target.

With just 15 months remaining on his contract, the out-of-favour Gotze seems to have all of the bargaining power in this situation. But Hunter notes that the Bavarian club is still seeking £30 million for the Germany international. Liverpool, sensing a little wiggle room, is hoping to strike a deal in the region of £15 million to £20 million.

Gotze - who played under Klopp during five successful years at Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga twice - is reportedly eager to restart his career away from the Allianz Arena. He has made just five league starts for Bayern this season, failing to find consistent minutes under Pep Guardiola.

Even the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti isn't enough of a change. Ancelotti is set to replace Guardiola on Bayern's bench in the offseason, but Hunter believes the opportunity to reunite with Klopp is an appealing one to Gotze.

The player dismissed rumours of a January move to Anfield during the last transfer window, but another few months in purgatory may have pushed him to reconsider his stance.

Related: Gotze pours cold water on rumours of Liverpool move, Klopp reunion

Gotze enjoyed the best football of his career with Klopp as his gaffer, scoring 22 goals in 83 Bundesliga appearances with Dortmund before joining Bayern in 2013. Klopp revealed that he couldn't speak after hearing the news that Bayern had activated Gotze's buy-out clause, showing just how attached the two were.

Such a transfer would represent a huge coup to the Liverpool hierarchy. Klopp has not only given the club a more aggressive look since his appointment in October, but also a reason for big-time players to consider it a desirable destination. Highly rated teenage playmaker Marko Grujic has already been recruited, as has 24-year-old Schalke defender Joel Matip.