Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United closely following Juventus star Merih Demiral who has a ‘strong bond’ with striker Cristiano Ronaldo
According to Fanatik (h/t Daily Star), Manchester United are interested in signing Juventus defender Merih Demiral at the end of the season to bolster their rearguard after a poor showing this campaign.
The player has impressed in Italy, playing for Sassuolo before joining Juve in 2019 and becoming a part of their defensive backline. This season, however, he has been sent on loan to Serie A side Atalanta, where he has become a regular mainstay of the rearguard.
The Red Devils have had their own problems at the back this term, with club captain Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof coming up short against stronger opposition and leaking in silly goals throughout the campaign.
The Manchester side are hoping that they can convince Juventus to part with Demiral at the end of the season, so as to add the 24-year-old to their squad as part of a defensive reinforcement planned for the summer transfer window.
Ronaldo link-up
The Turkey international is said to be close friends with Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom the defender played at Juventus before the Portuguese superstar moved back to Manchester for a second spell with the club.
Man United are hoping that his close ties with Ronaldo can convince him to join them instead of staying in Serie A. However, their attempt to sign the Turkish star may be complicated by his current loan side Atalanta, who could exercise their purchase option for the player in the summer.
While Maguire and Lindelof have long been failing to hit the expected mark and become the defensive duo that fans were hoping they could turn into, new signing Varane has struggled a bit in terms of injury this season.
Our skipper in particular has faced a lot of flak from pundits and fans this term, committing schoolboy errors on the pitch and failing to lead the side by example, as one expects him to while wearing the armband.
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Demiral meanwhile, has racked up 32 appearances so far for Atalanta this campaign and has become a defensive mainstay for the Serie A side, helping them to fifth place in the league and are contesting for the Champions League places.
Ronaldo has a year left on his Man United contract and could be awaiting the Turkey international if the Red Devils manage to snap up the defender. However, with a UCL qualification spot in danger of being snatched away by other Premier League clubs, it remains to be seen whether Ronaldo stays at the club, which could jeopardise our move for Demiral.
