With Liverpool activating Turkish-German midfielder Emre Can’s buy-out clause, his move to Merseyside was only a matter of time. Well, it looks like the time has come with both the Reds and Bayer Leverkusen releasing statements that a deal has been agreed “in principal” for the versatile 20-year old.
Following last weeks capture of striker Rickie Lambert from Southampton, Can is set to become Brendan Rodgers second signing of what’s sure to be a busy summer. With just the paperwork left to complete, an official announcement is expected to be en route and, if everything goes to plan, everything could be wrapped up by tomorrow morning before the German u-21 man officially joins the Anfield outfit when the transfer window opens for business on July, 1st.
Whispers of Liverpool’s interest in the promising youngster stretches back quite some time, but their pursuit looked to be hampered by a buy-back clause for former club Bayern Munich in his contract with Leverkusen. Can moved from the German giants in a deal worth £4.4million last summer, but with the Reds moving quickly to activate the £9.75mil release clause in his contract, the buy-back option became null and void with Pep Guardiola’s side not able to execute it until next summer.
“Emre Can developed very well and very quickly at Leverkusen over the last 12 months,” said Bayer’s CEO Michael Schade. “We would like to have kept him here but the release clause was a part of his contract. Therefore we wish him every success for his development in the Premier League.” Although Leverkusen wanted to hang on to Can for at least another year, they’ve wished him well on his move to the Premier League — and will be enjoying the spoils of a tidy little profit.
