Liverpool won’t entertain offers for midfielder Emre Can this summer, despite the 23-year-old entering the final year of his contract in July.
Can is yet to agree an extension to the deal he signed on his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, with his representatives regularly holding talks with the club.
He is believed to be seeking assurances over his long-term role under Jurgen Klopp, with the manager boasting considerable depth in his midfield ranks.
Serie A giants Juventus are interested in signing Can, though he is not at the top of their list of targets.
Nevertheless, this has mounted pressure on Liverpool as they bid to tie him down to a new deal, following renewals for Philippe Coutinho, Joe Gomez, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren.
But according to the Liverpool Echo, the Reds won’t sell Can under any circumstances this summer.
They are reportedly willing to risk Can seeing out the remainder of his contract and leave on a free transfer in 2018, such is Klopp’s faith in the Germany international.
Can is currently competing with Lallana, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum for a starting role, while Coutinho is expected to drop deeper into midfield next season, too.
Furthermore, the Reds are pursuing another addition in the middle of the park, with RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita the primary target.
Can has previously expressed his commitment to Liverpool, and is seemingly eager to remain on Merseyside beyond the end of this season.
But negotiations over an extension to his contract look to have taken a backseat while the club focuses on securing signings and Can turns out for Germany at the Confederations Cup.
England U20s striker Dominic Solanke will join on the expiry of Chelsea contract on July 1, while Roma winger Mohamed Salah is expected to sign in a £39 million deal later this week.
Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk remains a target despite the Reds publicly ending their interest earlier in June, while Keita and Arsenal‘s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are options for the midfield.
Can is likely to be with the Germany squad until July 2, with Joachim Low’s side favourites to win the tournament in Russia, which will ensure another late return for pre-season.
When Can does link back up with his Reds team-mates this summer, the club can hope to reconvene talks and secure him to a new long-term deal.
The No. 23 should warrant a wage increase in line with Lovren (£100,000 a week) and Lallana (£110,000 a week), given his importance to Klopp’s squad.
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