Bayern Munich to hold talks with reported Liverpool target Mario Gotze

Bayern Munich are preparing to hold talks with reported Liverpool target Mario Gotze about his long-term future at the club. The World Cup-winning midfielder has been on the fringes of Pep Guardiola's team this season and has been linked with a moved away from the Allianz Arena.

Matthias Sammer, the sporting director at Bayern Munich, is insistent Gotze will not be leaving the Bavarian club during the January transfer window. However, he does plan to sit down with the German to discuss his future.

Gotze, 23, admitted recently that he may have to pursue his career away from Bayern, having made only a handful of league appearances this season. By contrast, Sammer has previously dismissed the idea the club would entertain selling the player.

"I said it was madness when there were rumours about a transfer in January, whereas Mario was talking about the end of the season," Sammer said, according to Sky Sports. "Mario's comments were an indication that we will have to sit down at some point in the coming months and discuss his situation.

"That is only logical. I cannot see anything negative about what Mario said. He has put a few things up for discussion."

His chances of remaining with Bayern may have been boosted by Pep Guardiola's recent announcement that he is to leave the club at the end of the current campaign. Sammer said he hopes to clarify Gotze's future in the second half of the season. "We will clarify everything in the second half of the season. A lot of things will have been resolved by then," he explained.