Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are among clubs that are keen on signing Merih Demiral, with Juventus reportedly keen on recouping €40 million for him.
According to a report from Calciomercato.com, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are considering making a move for Juventus and Turkey defender Merih Demiral in the ongoing transfer window.
Demiral spent the majority of his youth career in Turkey with Fenerbahce before switching to Portugal, where he had stints with Alcanenense and Sporting CP before he returned to his homeland with Alanyaspor in 2018, only to secure a move to Sassuolo in January 2019, in a loan deal with an obligation to make the transfer permanent at the end of the season.
Demiral made a solid impression in his six-month stay at Sassuolo, prompting Juventus to snap him up immediately after his transfer to the Neroverdi was made permanent. However, the 23-year-old’s time in Turin has been a frustrating one as he had to struggle with injury problems and competition from some of the top defenders in the game in Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Matthijs de Ligt.
Demiral, as a result, has only made just 32 appearances in two years with Juventus, with the club now ready to cash in on him this summer as they look to generate funds to make a move for Manuel Locatelli. The Turkish international’s situation has already piqued the interest of Manchester United, with Tottenham and Everton now joining the bandwagon to secure his transfer.
That Tottenham are in the market for defensive reinforcements is no top secret. The Lilywhites endured a difficult 2020/21 campaign and are looking at a soft reset under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo and sporting director Fabio Paratici. Defence is a key area that will need to be addressed, with Toby Alderweireld seeking an exit and Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier simply not being consistent enough.
Tottenham, to that end, are said to be closing on the signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu, although he is likely to be an option at right-back, meaning a new centre-back remains the need of the hour for the north Londoners. Demiral, thus, has emerged as a viable target, with Paratici’s history with Juventus playing a role in their interest in the 23-year-old.
As for Everton, new manager Rafael Benitez is also looking to bolster his defensive ranks following a disappointing last season in which the Toffees conceded more than they scored in the Premier League. With Yerry Mina’s future at Goodison Park in doubt, a new central defender would be a welcome addition to complement the contingent of Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey.
Demiral, to that end, could be a handy signing should he steer clear of his injury issues. Juventus, for their part, are very much open to selling the Turkish defender and want a sum of €40 million for him. That could prove to be a tad too steep for a player who started just ten league games last season, potentially discouraging interested parties from making a move.
It now remains to be seen whether Tottenham and Everton press ahead with their interest in Demiral or decide to go after alternatives, with Conor Coady on the radars of both clubs.
