An Apt Replacement For Emre Can? – Why Liverpool Should Consider Signing FC Schalke’s Leon Goretzka
Liverpool are sweating over the contract conundrum of their German midfielder Emre Can who will be out of contract next summer and the Reds have failed to tie him down on a new long-term deal so far. Time is running out and the club is not agreeing to insert a release clause in his contract as demanded by player’s entourage. Can will be eligible to negotiate pre-contract terms in January and is likely to ply his trade with Serie A giants Juventus who have repeatedly expressed their desire to bring him in.
The Reds, however, are plotting his replacement already and if reports are believed to be true, Liverpool are one of many interesting parties to have expressed their desire to acquire Schalke and German midfielder Leon Goretzka who is available on a Bosman transfer next summer.
The 22-year-old German international was one of the top performers for his country in their 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup-winning campaign and has earned a regular status in Joachim Low’s squad. Jurgen Klopp, the Reds boss, has monitored his progress minutely and is considering a move in order to replace his fellow countryman, Emre Can.
Can, the former Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen star, joined the Reds back in 2014 and despite initial stumbles, has progressed massively since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival a couple of years back. The versatile German international has adapted well to Premier League’s power football and has become a frequent starter for the Reds in the middle of the park. Can’s egress on a free transfer will be massively disappointing for the Merseysiders, but to acquire Goretzka on a Bosman transfer will be a bigger boost.
Statistically, the Schalke 04 youngster is having a great impact for both club and country and has shown the promise to be the ‘next-gen’ superstar of German football. He plays in a central midfield role and is known for his strong physical presence as well as ball-holding ability and defensive work-rate. Klopp doesn’t have a genuine blocker in his side and Can has shown little consistency in that role.
Goretzka is a specialist and will help Liverpool get resilient in defence, which has been a major concern for years now. He is also lauded for his runs down the middle and has already netted 3 goals in this Bundesliga campaign. He holds better statistical data compared to Emre Can as shared below and is rightly monitored by top European outfits.
Goretzka, thus holds all attributes to be a bigger influence than Emre Can but needs to time to settle in new surroundings. He is still young and the fans have to be patient (like they have been with Emre Can) if they wish to witness his mastery in Liverpool colors.