Jurgen Klopp has insisted that Liverpool must "respect" Emre Can's decision to delay agreeing a new contract, as he enters the final seven months of his existing deal.

The 23-year-old has been tipped to join Juventus as a free agent at the end of the campaign after reportedly failing to agree fresh terms with the Reds in the latest round of talks.

Despite the prospect of losing one of his key midfield men next summer for nothing, Klopp claims that he will not put pressure on Can to commit to the club, even if it means being made to wait until the transfer window opens for a decision to be made.

"What could I do now? I could say, 'yes, it is a big problem' but it isn't," he told reporters. "I could say it is a big problem which we have to resolve now and put pressure on the player, put pressure on the club, but it makes no sense.

"We have to respect his contract is ending and that is how it is. I've said it a few times and I'll say it again: it is our job to make this club as exciting as possible.

"He is also allowed to sign a contract [with Liverpool] in May as a player who is still already here. I have no problem with that. As long as Emre doesn't give me one sign his mind is somewhere else I don't have to talk about this, it is a normal thing in football.

"That is part of football. If it happens like this we can't change it. If a player [belonging to another club] is ending his contract next summer and he is good then we should try to do the same so that is an opportunity for all of us."

Can has started 11 games for Liverpool in all competitions this season, including in the 3-0 win against Maribor last time out when scoring a key goal.