In a recent report, Calciomercato has mentioned that Everton are leading the race for Juventus defender Merih Demiral this summer. It is understood that the Toffees are in pole position to acquire the services of the Turkish centre-back after AC Milan cooled their interest in him as they want to focus on Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori (via Calciomercato).
Demiral’s Injury-Ravaged Season In Italian Football
Demiral has only been a sporadic presence in Juve’s first-team this season as he missed a lot of matches due to a muscle injury. The Kocaeli-born sensation has participated in 23 matches for the Turin giants this term, picking up one assist and four assists in multiple competitions.
The 23-year-old has given a good account of himself on the defensive end of the field by averaging 0.8 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per game in Serie A football this season. He has even been excellent when distributing possession out from the back, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 94% in the Italian first division (stats via whoscored).
Demiral is under contract at the Allianz Stadium until the summer of 2024, so it would take a sizable offer for the Toffees to lure him to Merseyside during this summer transfer period. At 23, the Turkish defensive ace still has a lot of room to grow into a future star in European football which makes him a good fit for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
What Will The Turkey International Add To Ancelotti’s Team?
Demiral can use his strong 1.90m frame to dominate the opposition and win some aerial duels for his team. He is an accurate passer of the ball and can scan the danger quickly to earn the ball back for his side. The 19-time Turkey international doesn’t take too many chances at the back and is proficient at clearing his lines when required.
We can expect him to add more quality to Ancelotti’s defensive department as well as increase competition for places within the Italian tactician’s squad. Hence, it would be a massive coup for Everton if they can find a way to bring him on board at the end of this campaign.
A highly experienced and successful manager like Ancelotti has what it takes to get the best out of Demiral in the coming seasons. Plus, signing the Turkish defender would be a big statement from the Merseyside club as they look to push for a top-four place in the Premier League over the next few years. All in all, Demiral will add more bite and steel to Ancelotti’s match-day squad that will help the Toffees cope with fixture congestion better in the upcoming campaign.
