Liverpool lining up fellow German international to replace Emre Can
Reports have emerged late in the transfer window that multiple clubs are believed to be considering triggering the release clause in the contract of Hoffenheim’s Kerem Demirbay, with Liverpool thought to be fronting the queue for his services.
The Reds could hold an advantage in the fact that the player is represented by the same agency as both Sadio Mane and Naby Keita, and Jurgen Klopp is still thought to be keen to bolster his midfield ranks at the end of the season, if not this month.
The reason for that is that the club are yet to reach an agreement with Emre Can to extend his contract at Anfield, with Juventus known to be long term admirers of the German international. Indeed, the Serie A champions are strong favourites to sign the 24-year-old on a free transfer come the end of the season, which would leave Liverpool short regardless of Keita’s arrival.
Question marks have been asked of the credentials of Jordan Henderson and James Milner in particular this season, and it would seem as though Klopp is concerned that Can’s departure would leave the club lacking quality in the middle third.
With that in mind, Demirbay has been on the club’s radar for some time now, though there is clearly a reluctance to stump up his £28m release fee from all parties believed to be monitoring the Hoffenheim man’s situation.
As of yet this season the 24-year-old has failed to reach the same standards as the 2016/17 campaign - ranking as the seventh highest rated player by WhoScored.com (7.49) - though he has still put in some strong performances for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
A box-to-box midfielder like Can, Demirbay doesn’t offer the same physical presence as his compatriot but is arguably more refined technically, making him a greater threat in the attacking third.
Both players have two goals to their names this season but the Liverpool star has played almost 600 minutes more in the league this season. The reported Reds target has averaged more shots (1.6 to 1.2) and considerably more key passes (1.9 to 1.1) per game, and while the tables turn for tackles, Demirbay’s average of 2.3 to Can’s 2.7 still highlights that he gets through plenty of work at both ends.
In that sense he is the type of midfielder that Klopp admires, with the likes of Can, Georginio Wijnaldum, Adam Lallana and certainly Keita all able to contribute in attack and defence.
With that in mind Demirbay would be a more than viable option to replace his fellow countryman if Emre Can does move on, but he’s not the sitting midfielder that the club still clearly needs in order to protect that suspect rearguard.
