Matthaus: Gotze should move to Chinese league

Dortmund. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus believes that the next logical step for Mario Gotze could be a switch to the Chinese Super League.

Gotze scored the winning goal in the World Cup final of 2014 but has toiled to make an impression at both Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the campaigns that have followed. Matthaus, himself a World Cup winner, thinks that the 24-year-old is lacking a key attribute to succeed at an elite level and might benefit from a switch to the big-spending CSL, which has attracted the likes of Carlos Tevez and Oscar in recent weeks.

“Honestly, even if it sounds a bit nasty, if it does not work for Gotze at Dortmund, he has to go to China. Gotze certainly does not want to make less money,” he told Sport Bild.

“He will not go to Schalke, he will not go to Leverkusen, Gladbach cannot afford to sign Gotze. Top clubs from abroad aren’t that interested anymore. “If he does not get in the team at Dortmund, and has the same salary demands, then he will be off to China - but that would be a poor test for a 24-year-old.”

Gotze has only played 11 Bundesliga matches for Dortmund this term, frequently finding himself on the bench. He has scored only one goal and provided one assist.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has been unsuccessful in persuading Bayern Munich’s prevention and rehabilitation specialist Dr. Andreas Schlumberger to join Liverpool.

The Reds boss had attempted to convince the 50-year-old to follow Mona Nemmer and Andreas Kornmayer by switching the Allianz Arena for Anfield.

The pair made the move last summer as head of nutrition and head of fitness respectively, but Schlumberger will not be reuniting with them as part of the Reds’ backroom staff as it stands.

Should he depart Munich, a return to Borussia Dortmund is thought to be preferred, where he served under Klopp between 2011 to 2015.

Schlumberger also previously worked with Germany’s youth teams as well as Nürnberg and is under contract at Bayern until 2019. (Goal.com)