Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has spoken out about the future of star midfielder Emre Can.
Klopp revealed that he wants Can to stay on at the club beyond the end of the season but stated that he just ‘don’t know’ whether he will strike a new deal or not.
“Look, I don’t know,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Swansea game.
“There are other places with football clubs as well. We cannot ignore that.
“In this era, maybe they are not all one team players. By the way, you only want the good players to be that. If someone not so good stays at one club all his life you say: ‘Why are you still here?’
“Let me say it like this, we have to make it as difficult as possible for them to want to leave here.
“That can and probably will still happen in the future. It is not a big problem, but we can’t let it happen too often.”
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The midfielder of Turkish origin has just a few months remaining on his current deal but has yet to extend his contract.
The major stumbling block during discussions over the past 18 months has been Can’s desire for a release clause.
The Reds will have to act fast as Juventus have made no secret of the fact they want the 24-year-old.
Juve chief Beppe Moratta confirmed negotiations with Can will continue.
“Emre Can is a player whose contract is running down, so it allows us to approach him for negotiations and that is the course we have taken,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.
“I can’t say if he could sign a new contract with Liverpool, but I can say we will try all we can to get the player. Obviously, we have to respect what the player wants.”
What is certain is that Can will remain at Liverpool until the end of the season.
Klopp revealed that he has been pleased with his midfielder’s recent form especially following injury to captain Jordan Henderson.
“Emre is here in the moment and that is the most important thing,” Klopp said.
“We have to create a situation where players want to stay – that’s all we can do as a club, as a team and me as a manager.
“For me, there is no problem if Emre plays like he is in the moment.
“Especially with the injury of Hendo (Jordan Henderson), he’s been playing pretty much all the time which is really difficult.
“For 60, 70 minutes he was outstanding against City. Important and impressive and stuff like that. We will see what happens. He didn’t sign a new contract for us yet otherwise we would have informed you.”