Even as Liverpool remain in celebration mood after having qualified for the Champions League, concerns remain at the club over the future of some key players – none more so than Emre Can. The German midfielder was widely expected to leave the club in the summer, as he has refused to sign a contract. His current deal runs out in June 2018, thus leaving Liverpool with little option to sell him in the summer if contract negotiations do not progress. Juventus are thought to be keen on the player (According to Il Messaggero), who will be available for substantially lower than his transfer relation of around £30 million.
Can was signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2014. Even though he began his career at Anfield in a quiet fashion, he has turned out into one of the important players in this team. He featured in 32 league matches – scoring five goals and creating two assists – in the 2016-17 season. Liverpool remain keen on retaining the player, but the stumbling block could be the player’s wage demands. We have been extremely strict on not paying players over the top. As a result, even superstar Philippe Coutinho makes just around £150,000 per week while he could earn around £250,000 per week – if he joins a club like Barcelona, who are thought to be interested in him.
Liverpool have reportedly offered a contract for Can but it only pays around £60,000 per week, while he is reportedly holding out for £100,000 per week.
It is a surprise that the 23-year-old is taking such a long time to make a decision on his future. After having made the return to Champions League football, staying at Anfield is one of the best decisions that he could make. While Juventus have been able to dominate the Italian Serie A and also reach the Champions League final this season, moving to an entirely new league will make it difficult for the player to guarantee first-team opportunities straight away.
Even though Can featured in 40 appearances over the course of the 2016-17 season, he says that the several injuries suffered over the campaign limited his impact. The 23-year-old was forced to miss eight matches as a result of injuries this season. He spent a total of 39 days on the sidelines.
The latest news about Can is that Liverpool remain relaxed about his future despite the constant rumours going around in the media. Liverpool Echo reports that, “Liverpool remain relaxed, relatively speaking at least, about the situation. They believe that the player wants to commit his future to the club, and are continuing to hold discussions with his representatives in order to find an agreement.”
