Brendan Rodgers could be ready to add more quality to Liverpool’s midfield ahead of next season, with reports claiming the Reds are interested in Bayer Leverkusen’s Emre Can. The Germany U21 international has been hailed as the ‘next Michael Ballack’ in some quarters, which is high praise indeed. talkSPORT takes a look at him in detail in our Transfer Spotlight… Name: Emre Can Date of birth: January 12, 1994 Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany Position: Defensive midfielder Club: Bayer Leverkusen International appearances: 6 (Germany U21) What’s the latest? Can only joined Leverkusen last summer after leaving Bayern, where he rose through the academy ranks. Reports claim Brendan Rodgers may have already watched him in the flesh, and with the Reds lacking a deep midfielder capable of filling in for Steven Gerrard, it’s easy to see why they would be interested. The German has a contract with Leverkusen until 2017, while Bayern have a buyback clause they can activate in 2015. Did you know? 1) Can played for several clubs as a youth footballer, including Eintracht Frankfurt, before joining Bayern’s academy in 2009. He made the step up to Bayern II at the start of the 2011/12 season. 2) The midfielder made it into Bayern’s senior squad a few times at the tail end of the 2011/12 season, but never entered the field of play. On August 12, 2012 he made his competitive debut for Bayern in their 2-1 DFL-Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund. 3) Over the course of the 2012/13 season Can continued to spend most of his time playing with Bayern II. Sensing his options would be limited, he joined Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2013. He made his debut for them in August 31 against Schalke, and has since gone on to play 37 games for them, starting 30. 4) The midfielder is an experienced Germany youth international, playing at U15 through to U21 level. Turkey, who he is eligible to play for, have attempted to convince him to pledge his allegiance to their senior side, but Can has been firm about his desire to continue playing for Germany. He says “I’m not concerned with Bayern’s buyback clause. I want to have success with Bayer. Right now I’m not interested in what happens in two years.” Can in an interview with Express.de.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 06:38:58 +0000
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