Juventus transfer plans could clear path for Everton to swoop for Demiral

Juventus are interested in signing Southampton defender Jannik Vestergaard this summer according to Italian sources, which could in turn see Everton sign Merih Demiral.

Turkey international Demiral had been suggested as one of four possible players that Juventus could use in a player-plus-cash exchange deal for Moise Kean this summer.

Juve are keen on bringing their former academy product back to the Allianz Stadium, while Everton are interested in adding centre-back Demiral, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

TuttoMercatoWeb now claim that the Serie A defending champions could turn their attention to Denmark international Vestergaard, who has impressed for Southampton this season.

Should Juventus move for the 28-year old it could pave the way for Everton to move on Demiral, with the Turin giants unlikely to let Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci or Matthijs De Ligt leave instead.

Carlo Ancelotti recently dismissed the prospect of signing a centre-back in the summer, but should interest in Yerry Mina firm up the club could be forced to explore the market.

Seems unneeded

With Ancelotti explicitly playing down the prospect of Everton signing a new centre-back in the summer, it seems unlikely that Demiral could head to Goodison Park, let alone have Vestergaard trigger the move.

Unless something drastic happens and Everton allow one of their options to leave the club, the Blues simply don’t have the room or resources to increase their centre-back options, even if the player in question has been described as a “natural leader” and likened to Nemanja Vidic.

Aside from Mina, Mason Holgate, Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey, Everton also have Jarrad Branthwaite coming through, while Lewis Gibson was also once held in high regard as a developing prospect.

Demiral was previously considered untransferable by Juventus so they clearly rate him, and at just 23-years old he has plenty of time to get even better under the right tutelage, but Everton must explore other priority areas.

Once the Toffees have signed a right-back, a right-sided winger, a central midfielder and a secondary striker, then they can begin to concern themselves with increasing their defensive depth.

In other Everton news, Ancelotti ready to give greenlight to mega-money swap deal.

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