Liverpool transfer news: Reds plotting January move for Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Gotze

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is plotting a move for Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze to improve the Reds' chances of finishing in the top four this season. The German midfielder, who is currently injured, is not a regular under Pep Guardiola for the Bavarian giants and could be tempted to link up with his former boss.

According to German publication Bild, the former Borussia Dortmund manager is keen to sign his former charge, with whom he enjoyed a close relationship during their time at the Westfalenstadion. The 2014 World Cup winner moved to Bayern on a free transfer and is contracted to the club until the summer of 2017.

The Bundesliga club are yet to begin contract talks with the midfielder, and according to Sport Bild, the Merseyside club could tempt the German club into selling with a bid of around €45m (£33.8m, $49m). The only drawback for Liverpool to make the signing during the ongoing January transfer will be the hamstring injury to Gotze, which has seen him sidelined since mid-October.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation with the squad in Doha, is not expected to return to the first-team before February, as the club are keen not to rush him back to action ahead of schedule.

"I have no more pain, but by February it will take," Gotze said, as quoted by Sport Bild.

Liverpool are already facing a major injury crisis at the club with the manager currently without a single centre-back, while Philippe Coutinho has also been ruled out for their upcoming Premier League clashes against Arsenal and Manchester United.

Bayern, however, are not keen on selling the midfielder midway through the season and sporting director Matthias Sammer has rubbished the rumour linking Gotze to Liverpool as "nonsense". "Every day new nonsense comes along. That is all I am going to say on this," Sammer told Sport Bild, as translated by Goal.com.