Can's contract situation "not perfect", says Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hopes Emre Can will sign a new deal at Anfield soon but admits the German's contract situation is "not perfect".

Can signed a four-year contract with Liverpool when he joined the Premier League club from Bayer Leverkusen in a £10m deal in July 2014.

Can's current deal runs out next summer, and the Germany international has yet to sign a contract extension, which has alerted Italian champions Juventus.

"So far there is no signing and that is the situation," Klopp said of Tuesday night’s Champions League play-off clash with Hoffenheim, which is live on BT Sport 2 on the eir Sport platform.

"We are still in talks. Do I think it is too cool that we didn't fix it so far? 

"No, to be honest. But it is all okay at the moment and we have to take it like this.

"The situation is not perfect, I would prefer that he has already signed, but I am still positive we can find the right solution for both sides."

Can could leave Anfield on a free transfer next summer, but Klopp says the club has no plans to sell the 23-year-old even if talks remain at an impasse.

"His mind is not elsewhere. It is an important contract for him at his age," the German continued

"I am 100% sure that we don’t sell the player now in this situation. Not a player from the first team line-up for sure.

"He will play here for the next year that is for sure. All the rest we have to see."

Klopp admits Hoffenheim is one of the toughest draws his side could have got in the play-off round of the Champions League.

"England play Germany and you can go out against Germany," the former Borusssia Dortmund manager said.

"We were both fourth last season, both in strong leagues, but that does not increase the pressure. We want to go to the group stages. That was our target for the whole of last season and now we have two steps to go – but they are the most difficult steps. That is how it is." 

Liverpool's Champions League play-off matches against Hoffenheim are live on BT Sport on the eir Sport package.

The first leg at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Tuesday, 15 August and the return leg at Anfield on Wednesday, 23 August will be shown live on BT Sport 2.

Image Getty Images/ John Powell

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