Liverpool Will Allow Emre Can’s Contract to Enter Final Season

By order of Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool will not seek to force Emre Can's hand by issuing any ultimatums as his agents continue to work behind the scenes with the club to secure a new deal for the 23-year-old. Moreover, the Liverpool manager intends to hold on to Can next season even if a new deal isn't agreed before its start.

At least so say Andy Hunter of The Guardian and Chris Bascombe of The Telegraph, both of whom claim the Liverpool boss would rather risk losing Can for nothing in 2018 than sell him this summer if it comes to that—but that Klopp believes the player has a long-term future at the club and that it won't come to that.

Though Can has at times struggled for form and fitness this season after a stellar 2015-16 campaign, this would seem to be a very clear sign of the manager's belief in the young midfielder. Klopp reportedly considers Can a key piece of the team he's trying to build, and that will continue to be the case next season regardless of his contract status.

Previously, Can had suggested that it was concerns over his long-term role at the club and not money that was holding up the signing of a new deal, and if that's true, then it appears as though Klopp is confident that he can prove to the player over the next year that any such concerns are misplaced.

Both Hunter and Bascombe further note that Liverpool's approach to Can stands in contrast to Everton's dealings with Ross Barkley, with the Reds' local rivals having already issues an ultimatum through manager Ronald Koeman telling Barkley to sign a new deal or be sold once the current season ends.