Gómez poised to make Bayern move

FC Bayern München are set to complete the signing of VfB Stuttgart striker Mario Gómez with the club declaring that the deal is "now little more than a formality". The two clubs are reported to have agreed a €30m fee for the Germany international.

Terrific season
The 23-year-old will sign a contract with Bayern on his return from Germany's tour of Asia next week following games against China and the United Arab Emirates. "Bayern are very happy Mario Gómez has decided in favour of our club," chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. "We're looking forward to having him here." Gómez has enjoyed a terrific season with Stuttgart, scoring 24 Bundesliga goals to finish the campaign as the club's leading scorer. He has spent his entire career at Stuttgart where he hit 63 goals in 121 Bundesliga games including one in the 2-1 loss to Bayern last Saturday. Gómez, who has scored six times in 23 appearances for Germany, was a key figure during Stuttgart's Bundesliga-winning campaign in 2006/07 when he scored 14 times.

'Something special'
"I have had a super time at VfB and I am very thankful for everything that I have been able to experience here," he said. "It hasn't been easy for me to take this step. I came to my decision having discussed the issue with VfB Stuttgart, my family and my agent. I certainly won't be breaking my ties with Stuttgart and will always enjoy coming back here." He added: "I'm looking forward to joining Bayern. Bayern is something special. I want to go all-out with this club in the league next season, and I'm really looking forward to playing in the Champions League."

New faces
After finishing second in the Bundesliga, Bayern have moved quickly to strengthen their squad having already signed Anatoliy Tymoshchuk from FC Zenit St. Petersburg, Ivica Olić from Hamburger SV, Alexander Baumjohann from VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. Andreas Görlitz will also return to the club following his loan spell with Karlsruher SC.