Newcastle United are reportedly willing to shell out a transfer fee of €20 million to sign Merih Demiral in the summer transfer window.
According to Turkish outlet C2 Haber, Newcastle United are becoming serious about their pursuit of Merih Demiral, and they are prepared to fork out a sum of €20 million to sign the Turkish international from Serie A giants Juventus.
Formerly of Alanyaspor and Sporting CP, the 24-year-old’s future is up in the air at the moment. Having joined Juventus from Sassuolo in 2019 on a five-year contract for €18 million, Demiral has stayed true to the somewhat journeyman theme of his career and joined fellow Serie A outfit Atalanta on loan after things did not go as planned at Juventus.
The loan stint worked wonders for him, as he was able to successfully revitalise his stalling career. The Turkish defender had a solid season at the Bergamo club, establishing himself as a vital cog at the heart of La Dea’s defence, featuring in 42 games across all competitions, chipping in with two goals and two assists along the way.
As such, the Serie A outfit possesses a €20 million option to convert the Turkish international’s temporary stay into a permanent one this summer. But according to the report, after Atalanta failed to qualify for any kind of European football next season, finishing 8th in Serie A, a deal is said to be off the table due to the scarcity of funds available at their disposal.
That means a return to Juventus could be on the horizon for Demiral, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side likely to shift him on once again. The player is likely to struggle for minutes at the Allianz Stadium next season and needs to find a new home this summer in search of regular first-team football.
Demiral’s availability has alerted a slew of top clubs, including Manchester United and Atletico Madrid. But it seems Newcastle United are in the driving seat to secure the 24-year-old defender’s signature. The Newcastle hierarchy are aiming to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad this summer as they continue their steady progression following their recent acquisition.
While Dan Burn and Fabian Schar have been exceptional in 2022, the Magpies are desperate for more defensive additions this summer. And if they fail to acquire Sven Botman in the coming days, Demiral could prove to be a real bargain option. The 24-year-old, who stands at 6ft 4in, is an aerially dominant, aggressive, and athletic centre-back who dominates the box.
The versatile right-footed defender can play in either a back three or a four-man system. Eddie Howe is known to prefer ball-playing defenders, and Demiral fits the bill. However, his greatest strength lies in his solid defensive actions numbers, as he is a strong tackler, boasting fantastic recovery pace and is a superb reader of the game.
Newcastle have also been encouraged by Demiral’s desire for the deal, with the source adding the Turkish international is keen to move to St. James’ Park. It remains to be seen whether or not Newcastle launch a €20 million formal bid for the Turkish international in the coming days.
