Mario Gotze still important for Bayern Munich insists Pep Guardiola amid Liverpool rumours

Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Gotze still has a role to play for the club despite having a limited impact this term due to injury. The 23-year-old was sidelined for four months as the result of a hamstring issue and his limited appearances have seen him linked with moves to Liverpool and Juventus.

Gotze has been an unused substitute in each of Bayern's last four games since he recaptured full fitness, and has been restricted to just four Bundesliga starts this term. The Bavarian giants are five points clear in the German top flight and are on course to win a 26<sup>th top division title, their fourth in a row.

Despiet scoring the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final when Germany beat Argentina, Gotze has been unable to build on that moment and his role as a peripheral player this term has seen him linked with a move abroad. The Guardian understands Gotze is among a host of players being targeted by Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool saw their annual profits soar.

However, Guardiola – who will leave Bayern for Liverpool's Premier League rivals Manchester City in the summer – says Gotze remains a key figure at the Allianz Arena. "He needs more time, but he is getting better week after week," he said, according to Goal.com. "I have seven strikers. [He is] very professional. He thinks about football 24 hours a day. We have another three months [of the season to go]."

Liverpool have pledged to back Klopp in the upcoming transfer window after announcing that revenue to May 2015 increased 16.5% to £297.9m, largely helped by the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona. Defeat to Manchester City in the League Cup final highlighted a number of key areas that need strengthening, and chief executive Ian Ayre has promised investment.

"There has never been a situation where we haven't backed the manager and there will be no difference with Jürgen as we move forward towards the summer," said Ayre, according to The Guardian. "Those discussions will go on and we will do what we need to do on his guidance and contribution. Everyone can expect what they have always seen to date with the club, which is to give the manager the support he needs.

"We are very fortunate in that everything we generate goes back into the team and you cannot spend any more than you generate and then some. We have seen in these results the owners have injected further cash into the business for our stadium and written off some money. The support is there as it has always been."