Rumor: Atletico Madrid and Valencia interested in Mario Gomez

Alleged MLS target and rumor mill favorite, Mario Gomez, is generating some transfer gossip heat. The German striker revived his reputation with a sterling season in Turkey, winning the league with Besiktas and scoring 26 goals in 33 Super Lig appearances. Throw in a couple of goals in Euro 2016 - and you have a hot commodity on the transfer market.

Gomez is technically a Fiorentina player, but it has become an accepted truth that the club will seek to capitalize on the forward's return to form while on loan in Turkey. He never really got going for La Viola, but he can clearly still do a very good job for the right team.

Besiktas had nudged ahead in the reportedly crowded race to hand Gomez his next contract. But the rumor mill isn't in the mood to let things settle down.

A report attributed to La Repubblica suggests the striker might be ready to explore the land of his father's birth, with Spanish clubs Valencia and Atletico Madrid said to be interested. Gomez is rumored to be positively disposed toward a move to La Liga.