Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic has backed the club's reported pursuit of Bayern Munich playmaker Mario Gotze.
With midfielder Arturo Vidal poised to join the Bavarians for £28m, speculation is rife that the 23-year-old will move in the opposite direction.
Gotze has struggled to nail down regular starts under Pep Guardiola, who was accused by the German's agent of "destroying" his client.
Mandzukic, who played with Gotze at Bayern during the 2013-14 season, was unveiled to the media after joining from Atletico Madrid, and says that his former teammate is more than welcome to join him in Turin.
"[Gotze] could play in any team," he told reporters. "He's a player of great quality, and a good guy.
"As for [Andrea] Pirlo and [Carlos] Tevez [who have left], they're great players, who any team would miss.
"But as some leave, others arrive. Juve are always thinking ahead, there are new recruits, fresh faces and I hope we can be as strong as last season."
Gotze, who scored the goal that ultimately won Germany the World Cup last summer, joined the Bundesliga giants from Borussia Dortmund in 2013. His contract expires in 2017.
Shane Callaghan
