Merih Demiral of Juventus and Joao Mario of FC Internazionale in aaction during the International Champions Cup match between Juventus and FC Internazionale at the Nanjing Olympic Center Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Yifan Ding/Getty Images)
According to journalist Dean Jones (h/t Daily Star), Juventus defender Merih Demiral will seek a move away from the club in January if he doesn’t receive more game time, alerting Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Turkish defender, 21, left Alanyaspor to join the Juventus for £15m in the summer. He had previously impressed during a six-month loan spell at Sassuolo. The 21-year-old has played just once for Juventus in all competitions, with Daniele Rugani also pushing for regular action.
Consequently, Merih Demiral could be on the lookout for a new home in January, with Jones adding that he wouldn’t mind moving on if his playing time does not increase. (h/t The Daily Star)
Even though Juventus would rather keep hold of Demiral, it is suggested that Arsenal and Manchester United are both interested in signing him. Manchester United broke the world transfer record for a defender by splashing out £80m to lure Harry Maguire away from Leicester City in the summer.
As for Arsenal, David Luiz was brought in during the summer as a replacement for Laurent Koscielny but unlike United, they have been defensively woeful so far this season. Thus, the Gunners must go all out and beat United to the signing of Demiral in January.
The North Londoners have leaked in 15 goals in 11 league games this season, which has set up significant obstacles to their bid of returning to the Champions League.
The centre-back duo of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz doesn’t seem to be working, with Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi covering themselves in glory in the Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool earlier this week.
If Arsenal are to return to the top four and even push for a Premier League title in the future, they have to sort out their defence. And the January transfer window would be the perfect time for Emery to solidify his backline after a series of poor displays.
Demiral is regarded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from Turkey in recent times. At a tender age of 21, he is already a full Turkish international, having made his debut for the senior team in November 2018 against Ukraine in a 0-0 draw.
The Turkish international could be the answer to Arsenal’s chronic defensive problems if Gunners chiefs are prepared to spend what it’ll take to prise him away from Juventus.
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