Liverpool, the English heavyweights, are currently in limbo regarding the contract situation of their decorated midfield general Emre Can who has only 10 months left on his current deal and is eligible to negotiate a move elsewhere from January 2018. The Reds have been sweating over the future of their star Brazilian Philippe Coutinho who has been forced to stay by club management despite handing in a transfer request with a view to move to Spanish giants Barcelona. Coutinho is arguably one of the best resources the Merseysiders have got in their youthful squad, yet, the uncertainty over Can’s future will damage them more if things do not alter drastically within the next couple of months.
The 23-year-old Germany international was brought in by former Reds boss Brendan Rodgers back in the summer of 2014 for a fee around £10 mil from Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen on a four-year contract. Despite being a deep-lying playmaker, the former Bayern Munich youngster was exploited in multiple roles, mostly as a defender. However, he secured a place in his preferred midfield role since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival and gradually made his presence known in Klopp’s ‘heavy metal football’.
Liverpool, however, opened contract talks last year but were reluctant to meet his demands of doubling current £35,000-a-week wages. They had another failed attempt this January and reportedly decided to let him leave for free when his contract expires in June 2018. Can, meanwhile, started showing his true potential in absence of skipper Jordan Henderson and soon established himself as a first-team essential last season. Clubs, aware of his contract conundrum, started approaching his entourage whereas Juventus, the Serie A champions, publicly announced their interest in Emre Can.
Liverpool, now ready to meet his wage demands, are currently having a conflict regarding Can’s willingness of inserting a reasonable buyout clause in his new contract offer. Although Klopp has roped in Naby Keita for the upcoming campaign who might be utilized in a similar role in Can’s absence, letting the young German leave for free will be a fiasco for the Merseysiders.
The management has been busier in recent weeks after successfully retaining their Samba star Philippe Coutinho despite the player was determined to leave Liverpool in order to join Spanish giants Barcelona. Coutinho is undoubtedly a top-notch resource known for his influence in big occasions, but the team has fared well in his absence so far during this new campaign where the midfield trio of skipper Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum have done immensely well to pull the strings and control the game from the middle of the park.
Can, especially, is in the form of his life as he has not only performing his defensive responsibilities by screening the back-line but also providing physicality to win back possession, troubling the opponent’s defensive line with banking on his down the middle runs, moreover, adding goals and assists to the game. His all-round display has made him a more crucial resource than Coutinho for the time being and Liverpool must do everything to tie him down to a long-term contract before it gets too late.
Coutinho didn’t have a buyout clause in his new deal that he signed back in January which allowed the club to maintain a strong stance in the summer transfer window. Can’s entourage is not willing to make a similar mistake as they want to keep the options open for a future move.
He has appeared 132 times for the Reds so far and is remembered for his majestic goal against Watford via an overhead kick. Liverpool, understandably, are in a quandary right now as losing a player of his calibre for free will be a massive disappointment. Also, granting his wishes will allow others to demand the same which will eventually lead Liverpool losing grip on their stars. Klopp and the board, however, must find out a solution as early as possible or meet his ultimatum to avoid an inevitable blow.
