Emre Can Reportedly Agrees Deal 'In Principle' to Join Juventus from Liverpool

Liverpool's Emre Can has reportedly agreed terms "in principle" to join Juventus after holding talks with the Italian giants on Thursday.

According to Sky Italia (via Sky Sports), the Germany international is close to finalising a deal that will see him join Juve in the summer, when his Liverpool contract expires.

The report noted Liverpool are still attempting to sign him to new terms at Anfield. However, Can is free to agree a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club, and the 23-year-old looks to be on the verge of sealing a move to the Old Lady.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri on Friday refused to confirm negotiations had taken place but did talk up Can's qualities, per the club's official Twitter account:

The news will be a big blow to Liverpool, as Can is one of few defensively adept central midfielders in manager Jurgen Klopp's top-heavy squad.

The Reds do have the advantage of knowing the Germany international will depart for Turin in the summer so have plenty of time to line up a replacement. It will rankle many involved with the Merseyside outfit, though, that Liverpool look set to lose Can for free.

The Frankfurt-born midfielder only cost Liverpool £9.75 million to sign from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, but the Reds could have made a profit on Can if they had not allowed him to run down his contract.

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Liverpool have already agreed to sign RB Leipzig's Naby Keita next summer, so Can's seemingly inevitable departure will be tempered by the talented Guinea midfielder's arrival at Anfield.

However, Klopp still needs to add more defensive-minded midfielders to his squad. Liverpool's attacking brilliance is unquestionable, but they have been let down by a weak rearguard for some time.

They begun the process of resolving the situation by bringing in centre-back Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, but the defensive-midfield unit also needs addressing at Anfield more than ever now Can appears set to leave the club.