Gomez is the Bundesliga's leading scorer this season

By Saj Chowdhury

Bayern Munich turned down offers from Chelsea and Liverpool for striker Mario Gomez during the January transfer window, the BBC has learned.

The Germany international is understood to have been the subject of a bid from the Reds early in January and the Blues nearer transfer deadline day.

Gomez, 25, who joined Bayern from Stuttgart for about £30m, is the German league's top scorer with 16 goals.

Chelsea and Liverpool told the BBC they do not comment on transfer policy.

The Stamford Bridge club added to their attack last month when they paid a British transfer-record fee of £50m to Liverpool for striker Fernando Torres.

Also on 31 January - transfer deadline day - Liverpool brought in forwards Andy Carroll and Luiz Suarez for a combined total of about £58m.

It is understood that Bayern were keen to hold on to Gomez because of a serious knee injury suffered by Ivica Olic earlier in the season, which left them with Miroslav Klose, Thomas Muller and Gomez as the only forwards available.

Gomez began his professional career with Stuttgart and his goals helped them lift the Bundesliga title in 2007.

In his first season after moving to Bayern in 2009, Gomez was an important figure as the German giants won the league and reached the Champions League final.

The forward, who is under contract until 2013, scored on his international debut against Switzerland in February 2007 and was selected for Germany's Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 squads.

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