Liverpool midfielder Emre Can has become the latest contract rebel in the Premier League, with the German reportedly refusing to sign a new contract. Merseyside has recently been rocked by news about Everton star Romelu Lukaku refusing to sign a new deal.
Can may not be on the same level as Lukaku, but he remains an important player in the Liverpool set up under Jurgen Klopp. The German international has less than 18 months left on his contract and the Reds could lose him for free in the summer of 2018.
Liverpool are increasingly concerned about Can’s contract situation, and the club are ready to hold further talks with the player’s representatives in the next few weeks in order to settle the issue. Even though Can has been quite silent on the contract talks, he is reportedly demanding around £100,000 per week in order to sign the new deal. Can has recently seen the likes of Philippe Coutinho extend their contracts with the club. The Brazilian has become the highest-paid player at Anfield after signing a contract worth around £150,000 per week.
This figure seems to have been the primary reason behind the contract stand-off. Liverpool are one of the teams which manage to have a strict wage structure even in 2017. As a result, none of these players are paid exorbitant wages, unlike at clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. These clubs have extravagant wage bills and are able to afford this extravagant wage bill largely due to their constant presence in the Champions League. Liverpool are in different in this regard, as the club has had just one season of Champions League football since the departure of Rafael Benitez.
The 23-year old has attracted interest from a lot clubs across Europe. Calciomercato reports that Juventus are seen as the club with huge interest on Can. After losing Paul Pogba in the summer the Italian club strengthened the team by bringing in striker Gonzalo Higuain. Now, though, manager Massimiliano Allegri has made signing a midfielder – just like Pogba – as a top priority.
Can fits into the mould, and he will also cost significantly less considering his contract status. Liverpool, though, are not expected to give up easily with the club expected to come in with a new offer in the next few weeks.
Here is what Twitter had to say about the whole Emre Can saga:
Trying to figure out how & why Emre Can is demanding £100,000 a week to sign a new Liverpool contract: pic.twitter.com/EVKQKp5dS5
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) March 10, 2017
If Emre Can says his contract dispute is over his position, not money, he’ll go in summer. Not getting in ahead of Henderson when fit. #LFC
— Matt Addison ⚽ (@MattAddison97) March 14, 2017
Maddock & Pearce: “Emre Can’s contract talks are held up by his outrageous wage demands”
Can: “it has nothing to do with money” pic.twitter.com/iNGZcrC8hF
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) March 13, 2017
Emre Can is Emre Can is Emre Can. Terrible match, turnovers and poor marking, and he caps it with a goal to make us look like assholes.
— Liverpool Offside (@LFCOffside) March 12, 2017
For the record I actually think Emre Can has the attributes to be a very good player, but currently he’s not been at very good level.
— Karl (@Karlton81) March 12, 2017
Emre Can wants a pay rise? Lmao, imagine even paying him to play football in the first place. #lfc
— YankeeScouser (@TheYankScouser) March 12, 2017