Emre Can has quite the dilemma on his hands if recent reports are true. The Liverpool midfielder has just seven months remaining on his current deal on Merseyside and negotiations are at a standstill.
Juventus, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and both Manchester rivals are queuing up looking to capitalise on Liverpool’s misfortune and Can must plot his next career move wisely.
The 23-year-old Frankfurt-born midfielder seemed like the ideal blank canvas for Reds boss Jürgen Klopp to mould into a future star, just as he did with Nuri Sahin and Ilkay Gündogan.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager replaced Brendan Rodgers at Anfield back in October 2015 and in the first match under his watchful eye, away to Tottenham Hotspur in a 0-0 draw, Can was the on the field general in the middle third for his compatriot.
Liverpool parted with £10million to secure the services of the ex-Bayer Leverkusen midfielder in the summer of 2014, and he was signed to be a long-term project.
He’s yet to add consistency to his game but there are signs it’s a matter of when and not if he’s able to put in eye-catching performances on a regular basis.
Liverpool tried to tie him down to a long-term contract but they’ve been unable to come to an agreement with the German midfielder. Reports first hinted that he wasn’t being offered enough money, then there were suggestions that he wanted guarantees over playing time before it was revealed that he wanted a release clause added to his deal.
The club won’t bow to Can’s demands after rejecting Philippe Coutinho’s request to include a release clause in his deal. And this is why they find themselves in this situation and why the former Bayern Munich academy graduate could be joining a rival club in just a little over six months time.
WHAT ARE CAN’S MAIN STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES?
The midfielder’s versatility is a weakness as well as a strength. He’s able to play a number of positions and managers in the past have utilised this but it’s been at the expense of him developing in a certain role and making it his own.
He turns 24 years old in January and if you ask 100 Liverpool fans what his best position is you would probably get three or four answers. Some like him as a No.6, others prefer him to be deployed as a box-to-box midfielder while you will find a few who will argue that he’s better as a centre-back in a back three.
Can doesn’t have a position because he’s not been allowed to claim one for himself. Of course, versatility will make him a better all-rounder but there’s a real threat of him becoming a jack of all trades but master of none type player.
He views himself as a No.6 and it’s understandable as to why. He’s diligent defensively and wins aerial duels, often dropping deep when playing for Liverpool to help with long balls.He’s expressive on the ball as well as being incisive. He’s press resistant meaning he’s a key part of a team playing out from the back and being a powerful runner means he’s able to really go through the gears when he’s gone beyond a member of the opposition. Also, if given the license to roam, he can chip in with a goal or two.
He also has a lot of experience despite his young age. He’s played over 150 times for Liverpool and was part of the Germany team to win the Confederations Cup.
Though he’s yet to win any silverware at Anfield he did play a vital role during their run to the 2016 Europa League final, putting in a Man of the Match performance against Villarreal in the semi-final.
He was also a key part of the team to finish fourth last season. Performances weren’t pretty towards the end of the 2016/17 season but Liverpool showed a grit and resilience to pip Arsenal to the final Champions League place, with Can one of the mainstays in midfield with captain Jordan Henderson ruled out from February onwards.
The mental strength is there and there are foundations for him to become a regular in a Champions League team.
His use of the ball isn’t always as crisp as it could be. This could be something that improves with age and experience but there are times he’s in possession and he takes one too many touches and it just slows things down. In matches against some of the best in Europe realising the ball just a slight second too late is the difference between a goalscoring chance and a turnover in possession.
WHERE MIGHT CAN END UP?
If Can had a long deal at Anfield then you would be looking at £40million in the current market to pry him away from Merseyside. The fact he’s available on a free is why so many clubs are seemingly courting him. There’s a chance to really upgrade your midfield options without breaking the bank, a rarity in today’s world.
According to The Daily Star, Juventus, long-term admirers of the German, are resigned to losing out on Can as Pep Guardiola steps up his pursuit of the midfielder. Manchester City want a holding midfielder with 32-year-old Fernandinho not getting any younger.
However, Italian outlet Tuttosport claim Manchester United are looking at Can as an option to replace Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera. Atlético Madrid are reportedly keen on bringing Herrera back to Spain after the Spaniard lost his place in the starting XI to Nemanja Matic. José Mourinho would love nothing more than to get one over on Liverpool, it’s just a bonus that Can fits the profile for Mourinho midfielders.
Bayern Munich have shown an interest in re-signing Can. Current coach Jupp Heynckes has recently praised Can as a “dynamic and powerful” player.
“There’s always certain criteria when you’re signing a player,” Heynckes said at a news conference ahead of the game against Borussia Dortmund. “I only had Emre Can for a few months. He is a good, young player who has developed well — he is dynamic and powerful.”
Bayern are in the midst of somewhat of a German recruitment drive and have brought former academy stars back to Bavaria in the past once they’ve proved themselves.
Rivals Borussia Dortmund are the latest club to show an interest with Can sharing an agent with manager Peter Bosz as well as one-time Liverpool transfer target Mahmoud Dahoud. German media claim Bosz wants a new No.6 and it could be a match made in heaven.
Can is definitely worth the fuss, and one of the aforementioned clubs is going to get themselves one of the bargains of the summer.
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