Report: Emre Can exit unlikely amid Benfica rumours

Emre Can is not expected to leave Borussia Dortmund in the January transfer window despite being heavily linked with a move to SL Benfica.

Reports in Italy and Portugal have claimed in recent days that SL Benfica are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can in the January transfer window on an initial loan deal with an option to buy. But Ruhr Nachrichten have rubbished those reports, claiming that the BVB bosses are highly unlikely to sanction Can’s exit in the middle of the season.

The report adds that Can’s versatility makes him an important depth player for Borussia Dortmund. And with the Black and Yellows unlikely to make too many moves in the January transfer window, he is set to stay at the club at least until the end of the season.

Can struggled to make much of an impression in the first half of the season and was limited to just 875 minutes of playing time in 17 appearances across all competitions. The 28 year old was also left out of the Germany squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and his future at Borussia Dortmund appears to be uncertain with 18 months left on his current contract.

Emre Can, who joined Borussia Dortmund from Juventus in January 2020 on an initial loan deal, has made a total of 100 appearances for the club. While he is unlikely to leave in January, his proneness to errors in big matches and his high salary could make him a candidate for a transfer away from the club in the summer.