According to Tuttosport, as cited by Calciomercato, FC Barcelona are interested in the services of Emre Can. The Spanish giants are working hard to strike a deal with Juventus in regards to the German international. It is believed that Can is no longer a part of Juve’s first-team plans as the Italian club look to maintain balance in the squad following the arrivals of Aaron Ramsey, Adrien Rabiot and Matthijs de Ligt.
Can’s spell at Juventus
Can initially moved to Juventus last summer, after seeing out his contract at Liverpool. The German international was then considered as one of Premier League’s best holding midfielders, having featured in over 160 competitive matches for Liverpool.
The ex-Bayer Leverkusen endured an average debut campaign at Juventus last season. Even though he wasn’t a first-team regular at the club, he still ended up making 29 league appearances, helping the Bianconeri retain the Serie A crown once again.
However, Juventus have made some significant signings in the market this summer, bringing in Ramsey and Rabiot. Both of them are expected to play a crucial role for the Italian giants this season, which could take a significant toll on the likes of Can, Sami Khedira and Blaise Matuidi’s gametime.
What can he bring to the table?
A holding midfielder by trade, Can has a physically imposing 1.86m frame that allows him to assert his dominance in the middle of the park. He is good at disrupting the flow of the opposing team by making strong tackles. The ex-Liverpool man is an excellent reader of the game as well.
Another key feature of Can’s gameplay is his ability to distribute possession. Much like any other modern number six, the German international is adept in circulating the ball, though he may seem clumsy with possession at times. He is also prone to lacking concentration.
Do Barcelona really need Can?
Can is somewhat of an unnecessary target for Barcelona at the moment, given their depth in midfield. Sergio Busquets is the undisputed number one choice in the holding midfield role. New signing Frenkie de Jong can also play in that position along with Arturo Vidal.
However, making a move for Can makes sense, should the Catalans sell either Vidal or Ivan Rakitic this summer. The ex-Liverpool star, in that regard, could be a fascinating option. He can provide the much-needed physicality in midfield while his imposing presence in midfield should add a new dimension to the Barcelona setup.
