“If it happens like this we can’t change it” – Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp issues response to star midfielder’s contract saga
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has issued a response to Emre Can’s on-going contract saga.
The 23-year-old midfielder has entered the final seven months of his contract with Liverpool. Can could end up leaving the club for free next summer unless a new deal is agreed.
According to the Daily Mail, negotiations have broken down due to a dispute over a release clause.
Serie A giants Juventus have been closely linked with the combative midfielder in recent months. Can will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with any European club from January.
However, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he will not put pressure on Can to sign a new contract despite the threat of him leaving in the summer.
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“What could I do now? I could say, ‘yes, it is a big problem’ but it isn’t,” Klopp told SkySports.
“I could say it is a big problem which we have to resolve now and put pressure on the player, put pressure on the club, but it makes no sense.
“We have to respect his contract is ending and that is how it is.
“I’ve said it a few times and I’ll say it again: it is our job to make this club as exciting as possible.
“He is also allowed to sign a contract [with Liverpool] in May as a player who is still already here. I have no problem with that.
“As long as Emre doesn’t give me one sign his mind is somewhere else I don’t have to talk about this, it is a normal thing in football.
“That is part of football. If it happens like this we can’t change it.
“If a player [belonging to another club] is ending his contract next summer and he is good then we should try to do the same so that is an opportunity for all of us.”
Can played the full 90 minutes during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over West Ham United last weekend. The Merseyside based club take on Southampton in their next Premier League fixture.