Liverpool scout £28m man, who says he prefers No.6 role

Kerem Demirbay TEAMtalk

Hoffenheim midfield man Kerem Demirbay says he can handle the pressure of being linked with Liverpool.

Liverpool reportedly scouted Demirbay in Champions League action last week.

Turkish-Football suggested “a source close to the player” had told them that Jurgen Klopp’s men were set to watch the player in Hoffenheim’s 3-3 Champions League draw at home to Lyon.

A report earlier in the month from the Daily Star claimed that Demirbay was back on Liverpool’s radar ahead of a possible January move.

And now the player himself confirmed Liverpool scouts were in attendance during Hoffenheim’s 4-0 win over Stuttgart on Saturday.

Demirbay came on as a substitute in the first half, and was quoted by Sky Germany as saying: “Of course I noticed that [Liverpool scouts were there]. I can handle it.”

Demirbay can play as a No.10 or as a deep-lying midfielder and he has admitted he prefers the more controlling role.

“I feel very, very well (as a) no.6,” he said. “That’s where I can set the pace for my team.”

Kerem Demibray TEAMtalk

Klopp has been looking for a replacement for Philippe Coutinho and almost landed Lyon playmaker Nabil Fekir in the summer, only for the deal to collapse at the 11th hour over his medical.

The 25-year-old agreed an extension earlier in the year which will run until the end of the 2021-22 season and Bild have claimed that the player has a £28m release clause in his deal.