The official club website reported that the deal was agreed "in principle," with other sources, including Liverpool Echo's Neil Jones, stating the move would go through on July 1.
LFC will sign Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen. He will move to Anfield on July 1.
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesecho) June 5, 2014
What Can Emre Can Do?
First and foremost, he's a player comfortable between both penalty areas, picking up possession deep and happy to sporadically surge forward into the opposite half of the field.
Though he naturally gravitates toward the left channel when playing in his preferred midfield role, Can is a right-footed player, though comfortable passing and controlling with either foot. Brendan Rodgers' preference for technical, confident footballers is perfectly addressed by Can's tendencies; the German-born player will not hesitate to dribble his way out of a situation, will happily take high balls down in crowded areas and favours sweeping, lofted passes of his own to open up the pitch.
His penchant for dribbling past an opponent can sometimes be seen close to his own penalty box, a risky trait which carries the threat of disaster, but this is one of many examples of the confidence that Can has which Rodgers will need to nurture, encourage and develop—in the right areas.
Excited by Emre Can. Gifted and gusty, young and versatile. The kind of player Brendan Rodgers will relish developing. #LFC
— Melissa Reddy (@1stLadyOfFooty) June 5, 2014
Emre Can: Of U21 players with 5+ apps in Europe’s top 5 leagues last season, only 2 averaged more dribbles per game than Can (2.5) #LFC
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) June 5, 2014
A well-built player, Can has a good speed when running at full-pelt, though does not exactly possess tremendous acceleration.
At his best, Can is a player who will turn on the ball, run into space and then suddenly begin to drive with purpose at the opposition, checking infield past defenders and looking to line up a final shot or pass.
All of that covers mainly his on-the-ball qualities and offensive talents, but he's also a competent and reliable defensive worker, who frequently looks to make challenges and reads the game well. In both instances, his decision-making on when to make those interceptions and tackles can be improved, but the fact that his willingness and inclination to do the defensive side of the game is already in place is a huge attraction.
Emre Can won 60 tackles for Leverkusen last season. Of players under-21 in the Bundesliga, only Johannes Geis won more (79).
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 5, 2014
Where Will He Fit?
Can is a midfield player, but he featured for a large portion of the season at left-back for Bayer Leverkusen in 2013-14. While he may provide additional full-back cover for the Reds next term, the assumption has to be that he is coming in to further his career in the centre of the park.
Liverpool utilised two main systems in their successful run over the second half of last season, both involving a 1-2 shape in midfield: The diamond and the 4-3-3.
Can would most naturally slot into the left-sided central role of the two ahead of a controller—nominally Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain—to make use of his ability to press, his strength and his technical ability on the ball.
In the diamond, he naturally provides cover down the channels defensively for the otherwise unprotected full-back, while he has the capacity to pass forward quickly, play narrow when required and make runs from deep into the final third. That would put him as a direct rival and competitor for the place of Joe Allen, who most frequently impressed from that area last term.
In a 4-3-3, with an additional man in attack wide of him, Can could be seen more through the middle as a late arrival in the penalty area, very similar to Jordan Henderson last season when playmaker Philippe Coutinho played the right-centre role in that system.
Source: Bleacher Report
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