Emre Can on his contract saga and how Liverpool sent out a message to European rivals
Reds midfielder says his future remains uncertain amid talk of a move to Italy
By
James Pearce
SPORT
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Emre Can says he’s still involved in contract discussions with
Liverpool as he dismissed suggestions that he’s already agreed to join Juventus this summer.
The Germany international insists he has yet to make a decision about his future but confirmed that he won’t be going anywhere during the current window.
Can, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, has so far resisted the Reds’ attempts to convince him to pen a new deal. The 24-year-old's agent has been demanding a release clause which Liverpool aren’t prepared to sanction.
During the stand-off Can has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus with speculation in Italy that he’s on the brink of signing a pre-contract agreement with the Serie A outfit.
Emre Can in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield (Image: (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images))
However, Can has given Kopites hope that he could remain at Anfield beyond this season.
“My agent is looking after everything but I am here until the summer,” Can said.
“I haven’t signed anything (with Juventus) or anyone. I am talking with everyone.
“Of course I am talking with Liverpool. I still have a contract here. It is an amazing club. What can I say? My agent does the rest.
“I just concentrate on the season, on my performance and the football. I will give everything for this team.”
Emre Can joins the celebrations with Sadio Mane for Liverpool's third against Man City
Can overcame illness to deliver arguably his best performance of the season in Sunday’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester City. The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder hailed it as the kind of combative and classy team display which will make the Reds’ Champions League rivals sit up and take notice.
“It was unbelievable,” he said.
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“Look at how we pressed, I think it was the best game. We played against Manchester City, you don’t have to forget that! We were always on the front foot, everyone pressing and everyone doing a brilliant job. I don’t know how many kilometres we ran...
“If the teams saw us playing like that, they will give us a lot of respect and we will take a lot of confidence.
“We don’t have to pick one player out. Every single player performed and did an amazing job. Teams watching our performance will think ‘oh wow!’ They will see we are a strong side but it’s just one game and we have to keep going. It’s Swansea next.”
Emre Can at Melwood (Image: (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
Can admits it was important for Liverpool to prove they can shine without
Philippe Coutinho following his recent £142million move to Barcelona. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was tasked with filling the void against Man City and the England international rose to the occasion - scoring the first and creating the second for Robert Firmino.
“Phil is a world class player but in the past we played a lot of games without him that were very good. Against City it was the same,” Can added.
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“Of course we will miss him. We will miss his goals, we will miss him as a team-mate and as a guy but we have to keep going.
“Alex was brilliant. He played all his life as a winger but against Man City he played as a No 8 and you could see he is an amazing player. He’s quick, he’s strong in tackles and he can score goals.”
