One way of gaining an edge over your closest domestic rivals is by snapping up their star player and it appears as if Bayern Munich are about to do just that if reports in Germany are to be believed.
According to German tabloid Bild, the recently crowned Bundesliga Champions have swooped to activate a release clause in the contract of Borussia Dortmund and Germany star Mario Gotze, who is likely to be a key figure in Dortmund’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid tomorrow night.
Bild claim that Bayern, who have made something of a habit of recruiting the best German players throughout their history, have agreed to pay €37 million for the 20-year old attacking midfielder, who, it is also claimed, has already put pen to paper on a contract worth €7 million a year with the Bavarian giants.
If the reports are true, it will be a huge blow to Dortmund, who could also lose striker Robert Lewandowski in the summer if speculation linking him with a move to Bayern or Manchester United proves accurate.
Dortmund won’t be the only ones disappointed by Gotze’s potential switch to Munich as Arsenal and Manchester City were also rumoured to be interested in snapping him up, while the rest of Europe will be casting envious glances at Bayern, who will be able to choose from the likes of Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Muller, Ribery, Robben, Javi Martinez and Gotze in midfield next season and will have Pep Guardiola in charge.
The news will hardly come as a welcome distraction for Dortmund ahead of the meeting with Madrid tomorrow night, but with Gotze amongst a number of their current squad coveted by the European elite, this might be their best chance of winning the Champions League for quite some time.
