---
title: "Forget Khedira: Liverpool should land £36m-rated playmaker to replace Emre Can"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/forget-khedira-liverpool-should-land-36m-rated-playmaker-to-replace-emre-can/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jack Saville"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2018-05-09T07:10:07Z"
modified: "2018-05-09T07:10:07Z"
---

# Forget Khedira: Liverpool should land £36m-rated playmaker to replace Emre Can

**The Liverpool fans in the Transfer Tavern are expecting huge changes to their midfield line-up this summer, and recent reports have served to intensify that opinion as the season draws to a close.**

The arrival of Naby Keita will certainly be one of the headline-making transfers of the summer, but he may not be the only central-midfield player to arrive at Anfield in the coming months. However, the departure of Emre Can will certainly be a notable point of discussion for the resident Reds faithful propping up our bar to deliberate over if he eventually decides to leave Anfield.

Whether Liverpool will require a replacement for Can will certainly form a core component of those discussions, but considering Keita’s qualities are more forward-thinking than the German international’s, it’s likely Jurgen Klopp will need to dip into the market once again. According to *[The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/6229010/liverpool-sami-khedira-juventus-emre-can-free-transfer/)*, Liverpool have been informed that Sami Khedira could be interested in a move to Merseyside this summer, so Klopp would certainly be wise to consider signing him to replace Can.

However, the fact that Khedira is 31-years-old should be a deal-breaker for Liverpool. With Man City threatening to dominate the Premier League for seasons to come, it’s important that Liverpool focus on the long-term project first and foremost and, with that being said, they should instead make a bid for another Serie A talent, namely Jorginho of Napoli (valued at £36 million by *[Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jorginho/leistungsdaten/spieler/102017)*).

The Italian international has deservedly gained plenty of plaudits for his performances within a deep-lying play-maker role this season and he has attracted interest from “four of five Premier League clubs” according to his agent in a report by *[CalcioNapoli24](https://www.calcionapoli24.it/esclusive/jorginho-l-agente-a-cn24-quattro-o-cinque-club-lo-vogliono-in-premier-n357290.html)*. Jorginho’s quality lies within his ability to dictate the tempo of proceedings with his extensive range of passing and composure in possession, and his style of play is well-suited to Klopp’s counter-attacking philosophy.

With the talent to simultaneously protect the back-four within an anchor role whilst contributing to Liverpool’s attacking play, Jorginho represents a perfect replacement for Can in midfield, and at 26-years-of-age he has his best footballing years still to come. The signing of Khedira would be a decent one for the Reds to conclude, but with regards to the long-term future, Jorginho represents a wiser investment.

**Liverpool fans – thoughts? Let us know below!**