Liverpool have reportedly set their sights on Sami Khedira as they brace themselves for the departure of Emre Can in the summer.
According to a report by The Sun, Liverpool are interested in signing Sami Khedira from Juventus in the summer transfer window. The Reds have held discussions with the Bianconeri over the German midfielder, who recently expressed his desire to play in the Premier League.
Khedira has been one of the most reliable midfielders in the world for nearly a decade, having been a key figure, first for Real Madrid and then for Juventus. The player has also been one of the go-to men for Joachim Low in the German National Side during this period, having been an almost indispensable figure in midfield.
This season, the veteran midfielder has shown his prowess in front of goal in addition to his defensive abilities, with 9 goals in 26 Serie A outings. But, his future at Juventus is uncertain, with the Italian champions turning their attention towards younger, long-term options.
Khedira does not have a dearth of admirers either, attracting interest from the Premier League. At the head of the chasing pack for the Germany international, are Liverpool, who are coincidentally set to lose a midfielder to Juventus.
Emre Can will reportedly depart from Anfield on a free transfer in the summer, with Juventus the favourites to sign him. And although Liverpool are set to land Naby Keita in the summer, they are also eager to replace Can in the squad.
The German international was developing into a midfield enforcer for the Reds, just the role that his compatriot plays at Juventus, showing defensive acumen to keep things tight in front of the backline. Indeed, Liverpool will lack such a player next season, which makes Khedira a viable target.
What would further enhance Liverpool’s prospects of signing Khedira in the summer is the fact that he recently expressed the desire to play in England in an interview with Bild, with the Premier League the only major league where he is yet to play.
“English football has always tempted me and it’s true the English title would be a nice addition for my collection, but this should not be a plea. It’s difficult to plan your future in football anyway, because it’s so fast.”
The only possible blot on his copybook would be a lack of mobility, something that could catch him off guard in Jurgen Klopp’s all-action system. But, as he has shown in recent months, Khedira can still bring an injection of energy, provided that the Liverpool manager rotate him well next season, should the Reds sign him.
What appears to be certain for now, is the fact that Khedira is likely to be available in the summer transfer window. It will now be interesting to see if Liverpool indeed secure the Juventus midfielder’s services, with Emre Can heading in the opposite direction.
