Liverpool transfer news and rumours: Mario Gotze drops a hint, Alexandre Pato linked, Mario Balotelli to return?

Who's been linked with a move to Anfield today?

Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Gotze (Getty Images)

It couldn’t really happen, could it? The likelihood of Mario Gotze moving to Liverpool was poo-pooed as “nonsense” yesterday by Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer.

Bild’s original report seemed fanciful, to say the least, but quotes that have emerged from the 23-year-old himself suggest he could be tempted to reunite with former manager Jurgen Klopp.

According to the Daily Express, when questioned on his future and the possibility of working with Klopp, Gotze impishly smiled and said: "I'm under contract here until 2017. We will see what happens. No one has contacted me yet."

Oh, you big tease. Notice his mention of a contract, just in case Sammer or any members of Bayern’s boardroom had forgotten that’s it’ll soon be time to get around the negotiating table if they want the World Cup winner to stick around.

Moving on and Brazilian sports journalist Alfredo Pedulla suggests that a deal is all but done for Alexandre Pato.

A fee of around €15million (£11.28million) has been agreed between the two clubs for the Corinthians player, who has played on loan at Sao Paulo for the last two years.

The former Milan forward has scored 38 goals in 95 appearances since moving to Estádio do Morumbi and the talk comes despite little indication of any interest from Merseyside.

Andrea Ranocchia’s name has cropped more and more frequently over the past few days and, according to Sky Italia, the Inter defender is interested in a move to Anfield.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool have already had a £7million bid accepted and talks have begun. They will, however, face competition from Sampdoria, who are hoping to take the 27-year-old centre-back on loan.

We’ll stay with Italy for the rest of the round-up and, first up, go to the website of Gianluca di Marzio, infamous rumour-monger, who claims the Reds are ready to bid for Anderlecht’s Dennis Praet.

The 21-year-old, who has been a target for Fiorentina in recent weeks, has a reported price tag of £22.3million and would be able to link up with fellow Belgium internationals Christian Benteke, Simon Mignolet and Divock Origi at Anfield.

Our last rumour is more of a return than a new signing, and one that most Liverpool fans will dread. Despite saying just last week that he had “no time” to think about Mario Balotelli, Klopp is now ready to welcome the troublesome striker back into the fold, if you believe Tuttomercatoweb.

The 25-year-old is currently on loan at former club Milan, where he has scored once and started just twice this season.

He was frozen out under Brendan Rodgers for some very slow, ponderous, un-gegenpressing performances last term, which calls into question whether Klopp really has hopes for the Italy international.