West Ham United are reportedly willing to offer in excess of €50m (£43.7m) for Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka.
The Germany international has spent the last five-and-a-half-years at Bayern and has made a total of 193 appearances in all competitions, scoring 36 goals and registering 37 assists.
Goretzka has won 13 trophies with the Bavarian giants including five Bundesliga titles, two DFB-Pokals and the Champions League.
The box-to-box midfielder has been a key cog in the Bayern machine over the years, but since the arrival of head coach Thomas Tuchel in March, the 28-year-old has been tipped to leave the Allianz Arena.
Goretzka has started 11 of his 14 appearances for Bayern in all competitions this season, but it is thought that Tuchel's first-choice midfield partnership is Joshua Kimmich and Konrad Laimer – the latter joined the club on a free transfer in the summer.
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Injuries and suspensions to both Kimmich and Laimer have presented first-team opportunities to Goretzka, who himself has missed a few matches this season following a hand operation.
Tuchel is known to be in the market for a new defensive midfielder, with Fulham's Joao Palhinha among their targets, and according to Fichajes, Bayern have already set the wheels in motion to part ways with Goretzka.
The report adds that several Premier League clubs are keeping tabs on Goretzka's situation, with West Ham said to hold a strong interest and are prepared to pay more than €50m (£43.7m) to win the race for the midfielder's signature.
West Ham are said to have turned their attention to recruiting Goretzka after failing in their pursuit of Palhinha over the summer, as did Bayern who were unable to finalise a deal for the Fulham man at the eleventh hour.
However, it remains to be seen whether Goretzka, who has just under three years remaining on his Bayern contract, would be interested in a move to West Ham, who at present cannot offer Champions League football.
West Ham's interest in Goretzka comes after they spent over £60m on midfield duo Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, who have both made bright starts to life under manager David Moyes, particularly the latter.
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Manchester United have also been linked with Goretzka in recent months, while former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has encouraged the Gunners to make a move for the German as well as compatriot Kimmich.
"In my opinion, this is a team that needs experience," Petit told Compare.Bet as quoted by Football365. "I know they want to buy young players with room to improve and I can understand that, but I think they need players that know how to win and have experience in big games.
"The main two players I would target if I was Arsenal would be Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka. They are both incredible players with huge experience who have both been at Bayern for a while and would maybe like a new challenge.
"Goretzka has played at such a high level for so long and is still only 28, and I think Kimmich would be great for Arsenal, even if the price tag may be a bit expensive."
Goretzka is currently away on international duty with Germany ahead of friendly fixtures against Turkey and Austria over the next six days.
Oliver Thomas
