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Report: Liverpool Could Facilitate Early Arrival of Naby Keita, Sell Emre Can in January

Liverpool could potential facilitate the arrival of Naby Keita six months earlier than expected.
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Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is thought to be facing the exit doors at the club and could make a move in January to accommodate the arrival of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig.

The Reds agreed a transfer with the German side during the summer after triggering Keita's £48m release clause and paying an undisclosed amount as a premium.

The agreement makes it so that the player joins Liverpool next season, but there are suggestions that Jurgen Klopp could attempt to talk Leipzig into letting him leave in January if they get knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage.

Italian publication Tuttosport have reported as much, and also claim that Can could be moved on in order to facilitate Keita's move.

The German international was a target for Juventus during the summer, and they could return for the player in January if Keita makes the move.

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Club executive Giuseppe Marotta, though, revealed doubts over the signing in a recent interview.

"Is Emre Can a target for January? No, we do not think we will attempt in January," he said. "We have a competitive squad, especially in midfield, although in that department for this match we are in emergency because there are missing Marchisio, Pjanic and Khedira. 

"But we really believe in our young people such as Bentancur. 

"Then again I do not think Liverpool is in the condition of giving up an important player in January, after not doing it in the summer."

That could all change if Leipzig agree to allow Keita to join the Reds sooner than planned however.