Leicester City’s current form and situation mean they are now in a good position to attract potential superstars from across Europe.
The Foxes are now showing interest in signing 21-year old Juventus defender Merih Demiral.
According to Italian journalist Nicola Schira (as cited by Leicestermercury), the English side are ready to offer up to €30million for his services at the end of the season.
But who is Demiral and what will he bring to the King Power Stadium?
Who Is Merih Demiral?
The 21-year old announced himself to European football after an impressive 2017/18 season with the Sporting B side, at the end of which he earned his first national cap for Turkey.
He moved back to his home country with Alanyaspor but spent just half a season in the first team, before Sassuolo came calling from Italy.
Demiral did enough that season for Italian giants Juventus to make a move for him in the summer. But the plethora of talent in Turin has seen the Turkish defender make just three league starts so far this season.
Known for his strength in the air and his understanding of the game, Demiral is an excellent tackler, with a calm head on his shoulder.
He rarely loses the ball in possession, even under pressure and is quick to sniff out attacks in and around the final third.
Though he is effective playing out from the back, he is also adept at playing in a deep block and marshalling his backline.
What makes him an exciting talent is the maturity that he shows, even against the toughest of opponents and at just 21, will be a superb addition to the squad under Brendan Rodgers.
Is He The Right Man For Leicester?
At his age, Demiral has already travelled to three different countries playing top-flight football, while also cementing his place in the first team for the national side.
He has 11 caps for Turkey and is ready for first-team football, which is hard to come by at Juventus.
But at King Power, he has a better chance of getting first-team action alongside Caglar Soyuncu, his teammate with Turkey. It must be pointed out that Jonny Evans in good form, so usurping him in the lineup will be hard.
Having sold Harry Maguire in the summer, Jonny Evans and Wes Morgan remain the only options to partner Soyuncu at the back this season. So, spending €30million on Demiral makes a lot of sense for Leicester City.
Rodgers could very well be in the transfer market for a defender at the end of the season, and Leicester’s scouting system may have found yet another gem in Demiral, who could be a solution at the back for years to come.
