Gomez makes claim

The Germany international has failed to hold down a regular first-team place at the Allianz Arena after joining from Stuttgart last northern summer and would have jumped at the chance of a temporary move to Merseyside to reignite his career.

But Bayern was not keen to let him go and insisted the 25-year-old still had a big part to play under Louis van Gaal this season.

Gomez told the Bild newspaper: "I have said that if I leave Bayern I will go abroad.

"Then came this interesting offer from Liverpool. I took the loan offer seriously and discussed it with my family and girlfriend because I just want to play.

"But Bayern gave me the impression that they see a future for me. And therefore a change was not an issue anymore."