If there are two positions in the team that need reinforcements, then those are a defensive midfielder and a left back. Liverpool put up a brilliant challenge this season, only to run out of gas at the end. While their attacking players have been brilliant, their defenders have often come short and that has harmed the team in a big way. Liverpool brought in a loanee from Valencia at the beginning of the season, Aly Cissokho, but he turned out to be disappointing. Steven Gerrard was made to play out his position as a holding midfielder and that hampered the prospects of the team in the important matches, most notably the game against Chelsea.
Rodgers must address this issue this season bringing in solid players to make up for this inefficiency and he has already targeted Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen. The 20 year old player is a former Bayern Munich youngster, who made the change this season to Bayer. He has already shown his talents as a holding midfielder and can as well play as a left back. If sources are to believed then Liverpool have already made an agreement with the club for a transfer worth €12m and the personal agreements are just a formality at this point of time.
Blessed with height, he commands a certain physical presence, requisite for the Premier League. He has already been effective in the central midfield position. His pace, interceptions and his ability to read the game are noteworthy. He has featured for Leverkusen in the Champions League and played against opponents such as PSG, Manchester United etc. which have made him an even better player. Liverpool would be fortunate to have him at such a decent price, considering the promise he has already shown and the scope he has in the Premier League.
On the flipside, he is far from a finished product. Former Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has seen him from close quarters, owing to Can’s association with the German champions, and Heynckes is of the opinion that Can has still a long way to go to reach the top level. Heynckes has insisted that he possesses the good qualities and given the chance, would go on to become one of the best in the world, but that time has not arrived yet. It may not be very pleasant to the ears for the Liverpool fans, but under Rodgers he has all the possibility to transform into one of the best, as many other Liverpool players have blossomed.
This season Can has been a regular for Leverkusen, recording an average pass accuracy of 78%. A player playing in the central midfield has to have more, but then it must not be forgotten that he was operating from the left back position. His winning of 54% of the average duels and 4 defensive actions per game also look impressive.
Emre Can might not be the kind of player who would walk into the side and transform it altogether, but he represents an intelligent buy, someone who has the potential to rule the Liverpool midfield for years to come.
Stats via squawka