Staying in Turin for this week’s transfer profile, Emre Can is a name that’s connected to Paris Saint-Germain according to Le10Sport. After arriving from Liverpool FC, things haven’t gone the way Can have hoped and so he might want out of Juventus F.C. during the January window.
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The German has only appeared in four Serie A matches with one start. If that’s not bad enough, Can was left off the UEFA Champions League squad. According to the Le10Sport report, sporting director Leonardo kept in touch with the midfielder over the summer but a deal didn’t get done. However, it doesn’t mean talks are necessarily over.
✈ #Mercato 🇮🇹 #SerieA
Convoité par le PSG, Emre Can est "choqué" de ne pas avoir été inscrit en Ligue des Champions par la Juve ! 😡😡😡 pic.twitter.com/J0flbbu7Qa— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) September 4, 2019
Since the arrival of Leonardo, PSG has seen their name linked to various players in Italy, where the Brazilian spent a few years as the sporting director for AC Milan. Having developed connections in Serie A, Leonardo is using them to work out deals or discuss players, which is why Can isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
Although the midfield looks stacked with Marquinhos, Idrissa Gueye, Ander Hererra, Marco Verratti, and Leandro Paredes, there’s still room for someone like Can especially considering the number of injuries PSG has had to deal with this season.
Keeping the midfield healthy is a challenge; nevertheless, the capital club could infuse another midfielder to rotate as domestic cup matches are looming to go along with Champions League and Ligue 1 competition. The 25-year-old can play all over the midfield, so his versatility is vital to give players a game off.
What the Numbers Say
Can’s style of play is one that will undoubtedly fit at PSG. Some of the strengths of his game are his passing and ball control.
Considering his limited playing time, Can is the leader among midfielders and forwards. Using the numbers provided by SofaScore, it shows that Can leads the group in accurate pass percentage with 95 percent. Also, he’s in the top 10 when it comes to key passes per 90 (1.8), total passes per 90 (50.4), and accurate passes per 90 (48). Can doesn’t lose the ball as he leads the midfielders and forwards in possession lost per 90 (6).
On the defensive side of the ball, Can is middle of the pack when it comes to tackles passes per 90 (2.4), dribbled past per 90 (1.2), and interceptions per 90 (1.2). Going by the numbers, it shows that Can is an average defender with some warts. Nonetheless, he’d still make a solid rotational player who gets solid minutes and can fill the void in case of an injury to another regular starter.
Another wart to his form is his discipline. Can averages 3.6 fouls per 90, so that’s almost four fouls each game on average. A reckless midfielder isn’t new to PSG, Verratti is one that averages a high amount of fouls. As long as the fouls don’t show up at an inopportune time, it’s a flaw PSG supporters can stomach.
Final Thought
With PSG heading towards the midpoint of the season, injuries are starting to show up, particularly in the midfield. Hererra, Gueye, and Verratti have all missed time due to injury this season. Furthermore, with more competitions like the Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France fast approaching, manager Thomas Tuchel needs to have bodies in the midfield for rotations, especially if PSG make a deep run in the Champions League.
Transfermrkt rates Can around €33-million and SofaScore has him valued around €35 million. If Leonardo decides to take on Can, expect another loan deal similar to how he conducted business in bringing Mauro Icardi to Paris from Inter Milan. Asking for PSG to spend between €30-€40-million for someone who won’t be a start isn’t a smart business decision.
Nonetheless, the addition of Can would be a welcomed one whether its only for the stretch run of the season or potentially a permanent one down the road.
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