Liverpool have been given a major boost in their pursuit of Merih Demiral, who could leave Juventus in the summer.
According to a report by Calciomercato, Liverpool are among the clubs keeping a close eye on Merih Demiral. The Juventus centre-back is facing an uncertain future at the club, with the Bianconeri ready to make an extraordinary summer swoop for Real Madrid superstar Sergio Ramos.
The Spaniard’s potential arrival in Turin could force Juventus to get rid of at least one existing defender, with Demiral tipped as the prime target. It should serve as an ideal boost for Liverpool who are particularly keen on securing the services of the Turkish international as Jurgen Klopp looks to bolster his defensive options in the summer.
The Reds were linked with a move for Demiral earlier in the January transfer window, Juventus did not entertain any outgoing for their defensive asset. Which is why Klopp’s men ultimately had to settle for his fellow countryman in Ozan Kabak, who joined the club on loan from FC Schalke in the Bundesliga.
Demiral has had difficulties competing with Juventus’ plethora of centre-backs including Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Matthijs de Ligt this campaign. He has been used only sparingly by Andrea Pirlo, especially with Chiellini once again showcasing top form despite being in the final stage of his long career.
Demiral, in contrast, is still only 22 and would relish the opportunity to join Liverpool in the summer. His robust style of play, combined with a pinch of technical flair tunes in well alongside someone like Virgil van Dijk. Their imposing presence at the back should significantly improve the club’s overall solidity.
The Juventus star could also provide some much-needed competition for Joe Gomez, Ben Davies and Kabak if he remains at Anfield beyond this summer. It would ultimately make Klopp less reliant on the services of young academy prospects like Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams.
However, it will be interesting to see whether Liverpool entertains other options, especially considering the number of top-quality centre-backs that are going to be available in the summer. The likes of David Alaba, Jerome Boateng and Dayot Upamecano have all emerged as attractive assets in the market, so a lot could depend on Demiral’s valuation.
Although the Turkish international is undoubtedly a quality defender, a fee in the region of €50 million could indeed be a shrewd move, considering the fact that Real Madrid’s other top defender in Raphael Varane could reportedly be available for that figure during the summer transfer window.
