Arsenal and Liverpool go head-to-head over £31m-rated World Cup winner

Liverpool will face stiff competition from rivals Arsenal in a bid to sign Germany international Mario Gotze this summer, according to Transfer Market Web (via the Daily Star).

The Premier League side, who currently sit ninth in the table following their 3-2 defeat to the hands of Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday, have been joined by the Gunners in the race to land the FC Bayern Munich midfielder once the current 2015-16 campaign has concluded.

The 23-year-old, who has 48 international caps to his name and helped Germany lift the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, has scored four goals and provided two assists in just 12 appearances in all competitions for the defending Bundesliga champions so far this season.

Gotze, whose contract at the Allianz Arena runs until the summer of 2017, is understood to not be part of incoming manager Carlo Ancelotti’s plans at the German giants once Pep Guardiola leaves for Manchester City later this year.

The £31m-rated central midfielder has already enjoyed playing under current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp during their time at Borussia Dortmund together.