Liverpool showed the world of football that they are a superpower in the making after their 4-3 win over Manchester City recently. Jurgen Klopp is truly building a squad that most players will want to join and for the first time in years, Liverpool no longer have the problem of players wanting to leave, at least after they have sold Philippe Coutinho, whose heart was set on playing for Barcelona.
The only other player in Klopp’s first team, that is unclear about his future at Anfield is midfielder Emre Can. The German ace is out of a contract at the end of the season and is reluctant to put pen to paper on a new deal, holding out on a release clause.
Liverpool are adamant not to give in to his demands and reports suggested that they could lose the midfielder to Italian giants Juventus this January. However, it is now understood that all reports that claim Juve have an agreement with the player, are false and that Can, though not extending his deal, will stay at the club beyond the deadline day.
This might mean that Liverpool could end up losing one of the most exciting midfielders for free, it will also give Klopp and his men time to convince Can to stay. So should Liverpool give in to his demands?
It is widely rumoured that Can wants promises of playing time in the first team before signing a new deal and wants the release clause only as an exit-strategy, otherwise. At just 24, he already has 107 PL appearances and is an established star and his performance against Manchester City showed why Liverpool cannot afford to lose him.
He has immense potential, fits into Klopp’s style of play well and is easier to convince than a player who is showing his class elsewhere. In the current transfer market, a player of Can’s potential and age will cost Liverpool at least £40m and unless the Reds have a readymade replacement lined up, they should do everything they can to retain the former Bayern man beyond the summer.
To add to it, he is currently the only natural no.6, given the skipper, Jordan Henderson himself is a box-to-box midfielder. Liverpool need a player to back Can up in the midfield and losing their only option in this role will be ludicrous.
He has been criticized for lack of urgency on the field and the tendency to lose his man in the midfield, he is a hard-working player, hard to replace and if no other agreement is reached, Liverpool, should cave into his demands, at least to get him to pledge his future to the club.
It will, however, be against the policy of the club, as has been for more than two years now so it will be interesting to see what Liverpool do in this regard. Do you think Liverpool should give Can his release clause?
