Emre Can could be pushed down pecking order if Liverpool complete £70m transfer

Naby Keita would be a great addition to Liverpool according to club legend Dietmar Hamann.

The former Reds star believes Keita’s £70 million price tag would not put him off the transfer.

“Would £70million put me off buying Keita? No,” Hamann told the Liverpool Echo.

Hamann waxed lyrical about the holding midfielder but there could be a casualty if he joins.

Reds ace Emre Can could end up losing his place in the team and being forced down the pecking order.

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Hamann claims that Jordan Henderson would keep his place in the side but that Can’s position would become less clear.

The Istanbul hero stated that head coach Jurgen Klopp currently has two midfielders who have played deep, Can and Henderson.

Hamann feels that it would be Keita partnering Henderson if he made the move.

“It’s all about the balance of the team. Keita can play deep but I don’t think you spend £70million on a holding midfielder. Having someone like (Nemanja) Matic next to him would be perfect,” he added.

“Klopp has got (Jordan) Henderson and (Emre) Can who have played deep, but I don’t think either is an out and out holding midfielder. They aren’t really defensively minded.

“As of now, I can probably see Henderson holding this season and Keita, if he joins, would be that link between defence and attackers like (Roberto) Firmino, (Philippe) Coutinho and (Adam) Lallana.”

The midfielder of Turkish origin would face stiff competition for a first-team role if Keita joins this summer.

Klopp plays a 4-3-3 formation with a three-man midfielder. Can struggled to break into the first-team when Henderson was fit last season, only solidifying his place after the captain picked up an injury.

The German manager played Can, Gini Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana in his three-man midfield following Henderson’s injury.

Prior to that Wijnaldum, Lallana and Henderson were enjoying playing time together.

Can already faces an uncertain future at the club as he has just 12 months left on his contract and has yet to sign an extension.