Arsenal, Liverpool receive transfer update on £20m Germany playmaker

Bayern Munich have denied that Arsenal and Liverpool target Mario Gotze is being forced out of the Bundesliga champions.

The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League over the past six weeks since the end of the Bundesliga season.

Liverpool were thought to be on the brink of signing the World Cup winner before the forward sacked his agent amid talk of salvaging his Bayern career.

However, Gotze, who has also been linked with a switch to Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Arsenal, has been urged to change clubs by Germany manager Joachim Low and Bayern legend Franz Beckenbaeur in recent weeks.

But the Bundesliga champions have now issued a statement which rubbishes the suggestion that Gotze is being forced out of the club.

“It has been reported that FC Bayern has ‘threatened’ Mario Götze by stating he would not be nominated to play in the Champions League if he remains at the club. FC Bayern Munich has demanded that various media sources cease and desist from reporting false claims,” a Bayern statement read.

MORE: The latest Liverpool news and views

MORE: The latest Liverpool player tweets

Gotze is currently on international duty with Germany at Euro 2016 as Low’s side look to win back-to-back major tournaments in France.