Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes summer signing Emre Can is a future Anfield star…
Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool summer signing Emre Can has a “big future” at the club, and will soon become the defensive rock in midfield for his new side, reports the Liverpool Echo.
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The 20-year-old joined the Premier League from Bayer Leverkusen this past summer, but injuries and a lack of fitness have hampered his start to life at Anfield.
Having spent well over £100m in the last transfer window on players such as Mario Balotelli and Adam Lallana, Can arguably came with the most promise.
Rodgers certainly believes there is far more to come from the German star, and claims he will have a huge part to play in the future success of the club.
“Emre has a big future here. It was curtailed a bit in the summer when he was trying to get his fitness but had an ankle issue which meant he was in and out of training,” he said.
“Emre has great athleticism and has presence on the pitch and is an outstanding footballer. He is young and still acclimatising to the game here.
“His favourite position is more defensive. He likes to be in that central role and look to contain the game and challenge and be strong in the duel. Emre coming on at Burnley gave us assurance and physicality.
“He is someone whose influence as the season goes on will be greater.”
Can will be hoping to see far more first team action in the new year, with his injuries now hopefully behind him.
Talismanic star Steven Gerrard has been deployed as the main defensive midfielder for Liverpool this season, but with the retired England international getting on in years, Can could prove to be the future of the Merseyside midfield.