According to Calciomercato, Tottenham are interested in Merih Demiral. Along with Everton, they are eyeing a move for the Juventus centre-back who might be available in the market this summer. However, the Serie A giants value Demiral at around €40 million, which might turn out to be a real stumbling block for the interested parties.
Merih Demiral’s Struggles At Juventus
Merih Demiral broke into the scene in Serie A during his spell at Sassuolo, before earning an €18 million move to Juventus in 2019. Unfortunately, the centre-back has always been an outsider in Turin.
During his ongoing two-year stint at the club, Demiral has often been overlooked, in favour of the two Italian defensive giants in Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. The addition of Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax hasn’t helped either, leading to the Turkish international falling out of favour at Juventus.
The 23-year-old has failed to even muster 1,000 minutes of league football in any of his two seasons at Juve. He also endured a disappointing Euro 2020 campaign, as Turkey were knocked out of the group stages following three back to back defeats.
What Can He Bring To The Table?
Despite Demiral’s recent setbacks, he is still highly regarded as one of the most gifted centre-backs in Europe. His ability to read the game, combined with his imposing 1.90m figure does indeed make him a well-rounded defender.
The 23-year-old is particularly impressive when it comes to physical and aerial duels, whereas he is quite secure on the ball as well. Demiral does have a bit of a problem when it comes to consistency, as was evident in his performances for Turkey in Euro 2020.
But he always has room to improve, especially at the age of just 23. And with regular game-time, the Turkish international might even be able to live up to his expectations in the future.
Is Tottenham The Right Fit?
Tottenham Hotspur are in need of defensive reinforcements in the summer. The likes of Eric Dier and even Davinson Sanchez have turned into potential liabilities, with Nuno Espirito Santo now desperate for new faces.
Merih Demiral is an interesting option as the 23-year-old is equipped with the ideal skillset that may help him thrive in the Premier League. His robust style of play should combine well with the technically oriented nature of Toby Alderweireld.
However, for a fee of €40 million, Demiral will be nothing more than a risky option. The Juventus star hasn’t had a bright two years in Turin and his form in Euro 2020 indicate that the defender might even be in decline. As such, it would perhaps be wiser for Tottenham to set their sights on other alternatives in the market this summer.
