According to reputed journalist and Liverpool Echo reporter James Pearce, the Merseyside club are still in talks with Bayer Leverusen midfielder Emre Can who is summer target for the Reds.

Talks still ongoing over a deal for Emre Can. Told it remains ‘some way off’. #LFC

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) May 28, 2014

We had earlier reported that Leverkusen had confirmed Liverpool’s interest in the 20 year old German with the club’s Sporting Director Rudi Voller revealing that Brendan Rodgers is keen to acquire the services of the player in the coming summer transfer market.

However, Pearce believes that despite Liverpool being prepared to activate the £10m release clause in Can’s contract, the deal is being hampered by the player’s wage demands.

The Leverkusen player possess great versatility and is able to play in a variety of positions either in a central defensive midfield role or operating as a centre back or even left back if required. can has featured in 36 appearances this season and despite playing in a deep role has notched up 3 goals and grabbed an equal number of assists to his credit.

With Liverpool in the Champions League next season, Can would ceaselessly fit in the Liverpool starting eleven taking up Lucas Leiva’s role ahead of the back four enabling captain Steven Gerrard to play with more freedom in the middle of the park.

It was Bayern Munich who sold Can to Leverkusen for £4.5m last summer but the Bavarians have a buy-back option on the player. However with the plethora of midfield options for Pep Guardiola, its can be said that the German Champions would hardly want their former player to return at the Allianz Arena in the summer.