Emre Can set for Liverpool exit on free transfer as contract talks stall
Germany midfielder out of contract next summer and club have failed to agree terms with Bayern Munich and Juventus both showing interest
EMRE CAN is set to leave Liverpool on a free transfer next summer after talks over a new contract at Anfield reached stalemate.
Germany midfield star Can is in the final year of his current deal at Anfield and the club are desperate to get him to commit his long-term future.
But despite talking with the player and his representatives for over a year, they have been unable to reach an agreement.
And now the 23-year-old is expected to run down his contract and look at the possibility of leaving for nothing next summer.
Crucially, Can turns 24 in January - meaning he passes the age at which Liverpool could demand a fee for him if he were to leave.
And with Bayern Munich and Juventus both showing a strong interest in him, boss Jurgen Klopp is growing increasingly concerned he will lose the player from his squad.
The impasse between Can and Liverpool is because of his desire to have a release clause inserted in any new deal he would sign.
The Mail claim the player has no issue with the money being put on the table by Anfield bosses.
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But Liverpool's stated insistence they will not allow release clauses in contracts from now on has proved to be the major stumbling block in getting terms agreed.
The club held firm in a similar way when they rewarded Philippe Coutinho with a new contract last January, and they will not give in to Can either.
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Club bosses believe such a stance protects them from being vulnerable to losing key players to other major clubs across Europe.
But though it gives them bigger bargaining power in transfer talks, the stance could come back to haunt them with players demanding ever greater freedom.
The way Liverpool were able to resist all Barcelona's attempts to sign Coutinho last summer was evidence to them that their position was working.
But it has also been noted by Can that Coutinho was forced to miss out on his dream move to the Nou Camp because the club were unwilling to sell.
With his current contract now winding down, Can will be free to start negotiating with new clubs from the start of January about signing a pre-contract agreement.
Juventus tried to sign Can last summer, but were unable to put together a deal good enough for Liverpool to agree to sell.
Their interest remains, and Bayern have also entered the running as they look to rebuild a squad that is showing signs of needing fresh faces this season.
