Just who does Emre Can think he is?
The Liverpool midfielder is out of contract this summer and has strung the club along for many months, clearly enjoying his situation of being able to choose where he wants to go at the end of the season.
According to the Italian media, and comments from the Turin club, Juventus have been very keen, working to get a deal done, and have been confident everything has been agreed between them and Can’s agents.
The problem is that Can hasn’t wanted to commit, with the reasoning being he doesn’t want to annoy Jurgen Klopp to the extent it sees him dropped from Liverpool’s team, and therefore harm his chances of starting for Germany at the World Cup.
Speaking to Suddeutsche Zeitung (via Calciomercato) this week, the Liverpool player said: “I do not want to exclude any option, I don’t know what I will do from next summer. I’m pretty sure of myself saying that my qualities will be enough to play in a very large club starting next summer.
“Back in the Bundesliga, why not, although I have to admit that the level has dropped considerably in recent years, the Premier League has the opportunity to spend more money on the market and this is very important for the players. Also La Liga is very attractive, as well as Serie A, which has grown in recent years, or Ligue 1, which has become one of the most important leagues in Europe.”
He plays for Liverpool and whilst he’s fully entitled to speak to other clubs, it just seems a little dirty to flirt so openly with so many potential options.
It’s almost certain Juventus wouldn’t be interested if Can wasn’t a potential bargain, and the same goes for other clubs who have been linked. Whilst the Liverpool player seems to be walking around with the air of a man who feels clubs see him as a prime signing, perhaps he needs to realise that’s because he’d be free and there’d be far less effort from Juve and others if the price was, say, €60m.
Klopp’s efforts to persuade Can to stay at Anfield have included giving the German international the captain’s armband. It doesn’t quite seem fitting for him to do that again.
As for Juventus, they won’t stand for being messed around too much and if Can’s public chatter, and apparent arrogance, continues then there’s a good chance the Turin club will walk away.
