Reports: Real Madrid preparing a swoop for Liverpool midfielder

What’s the rumour?

According to reports in The Express, Real Madrid have joined Juventus in the race for Emre Can, who will be out of contract at Liverpool at the end of the season.

Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said earlier this week, "Emre Can is a player everyone wants for his qualities and being a free agent on June 30."

In case you didn't know

Can joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2014, and the German international has made more than 160 appearances for the Merseyside club in all competitions.

Juventus have been strongly linked with a move for the 24-year-old midfielder, but the Spanish giants have also expressed an interest in the player who could be available for nothing except the signing-on fees at the end of the season.

The German international has scored six times and produced five assists in 33 appearances for the Reds this season.

The heart of the matter

Zinedine Zidane is looking to revamp the Real Madrid squad this summer as a number of key stars could depart including Luka Modric, Keylor Navas and Gareth Bale.

Therefore, Can, who wants to join Los Blancos this summer, could see himself as the perfect candidate to replace Modric in their starting XI

Rumour rating/probability - 6/10

Although Can is yet to agree on an extension at Anfield, he has been a regular at the heart of the Reds' midfield this term.

He has been the first choice for Jurgen Klopp, making 36 appearances thus far, and it is difficult to say if Liverpool are ready to part ways with Can.

Author’s take

Can has been a mainstay in the Liverpool midfield this season and will be a huge loss if he does indeed depart the club in the summer.

However, Zidane will see Can as a great addition to his squad as it will add depth to his resources