Liverpool legend John Barnes is backing their bid for Bayern Munich attacker Mario Gotze.

Gotze has been heavily linked with a reunion with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who he played under at Borussia Dortmund between 2009 and 2013.

"It's not important who leaves, but who comes in," Barnes told the London Evening Standard.

"We need strengthening at the back. If the opportunity to get Mario Gotze comes, we have to take it because we have to take quality where we can get it.

"We must improve defensively, so [we need to sign] a centre-back, full-back and maybe another goalkeeper. If the quality is available to us in terms of a player like Gotze, we can't say no."