3 PL clubs who should pounce on the chance to sign Mario Gotze
According to German outlet Bild (h/t Daily Mail), Mario Gotze is set to leave Borussia Dortmund a second time when his contract expires this summer.
The 27-year-old denied a contract extension at Dortmund after being subjected to a 30% pay cut, the report claims. A 5-time Bundesliga winner, Gotze has been used as a bit-part player by manager Lucien Favre, making just 11 appearances this season.
After rising through Dortmund’s youth ranks, Gotze went on to become a crucial player for the German outfit, winning two successive league titles with them (2010-11, 2011-12). The following year, Gotze was roped in by Dortmund’s rivals Bayern, with whom he spent 3 seasons.
Despite the big move, his time at Bayern was filled with many ups and downs, mainly fitness-related issues, which saw him leave the German giants to reunite with his former club Dortmund in the summer of 2016.
Still, Gotze managed to hit the target 36 times and provide 24 assists from 114 matches for Bayern. However, since his return to Signal Iduna Park, he has found it difficult to nail down a regular place in the squad, with injuries often disrupting his game time.
The lack of regular action and wage situation seems to have frustrated Gotze, who opted against extending his contract at the club, thus making himself a free agent by the end of the season.
With the player now eager to join foreign leagues, let’s take a look at some of the Premier League clubs who must use the chance to sign the German star.
Manchester United
It is no hidden fact that Manchester United lack good creative midfielders in their ranks. With United’s current lot of playmakers such as Andreas Pereira, Jesse Lingard, and veteran Juan Mata failing to impress so far, they need some quality in their attack to increase their goal-scoring chances.
In this regard, the experienced Gotze, who is known for giving key passes and excellent through balls, could be a great addition to United, who are devoid of playmakers with good vision.
He could also be an excellent stop-gap solution for the Red Devils if they wish to end the season in the top-four.
Everton
Everton have recovered from an early relegation scare and are now safely in 11th place. However, injuries to the side’s summer signings, Andre Gomes and Jean-Philippe Gbamin, have dearly affected the Toffees’ performances in the middle.
Moreover, the poor form of attacking midfielder and seasoned campaigner Gylfi Sigurdsson resulted in the side’s downfall early in the season.
However, if Gotze’s arrives, new boss Ancelotti would have more options to choose from in the midfield. Also, having plied his trade with the biggest clubs on the highest stages, it wouldn’t take Goetze much time to adjust to the new conditions.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham too, like Everton, have escaped a poor start to the season and sit 7th in the table now. However, manager Jose Mourinho has issues to sort out in the middle, with seasoned playmaker Christian Eriksen’s future at the club remaining an uncertainty, as of now.
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The Dane is keen on a move and Mourinho needs a replacement for the 27-year-old if such a situation arises. That said, who better than the versatile Gotze, who has shown his creative prowess by playing a variety of roles for both Bayern and Dortmund.