Opinion: How Merih Demiral could be the key to defensive success at Tottenham

Currently valued at £27m, Merih Demiral is one of the brightest defenders in Europe at this moment in time, with his aerial dominance, ball distribution and aggressive tackles standing out amongst the rest.

Although a move for a new centre-back was ruled out by Alasdair Gold this month, an investment in the summer could immensely benefit the North London side.

The 22-year-old Turkish international is looked upon by many as the best youngster in Turkey, and already had a major role in the national side’s qualification to the Euros.

Displaying solid performances against ex-World cup champions France and being a minister of defence for Turkey; Demiral was the leading architect in keeping eight clean sheets in 10 qualifier games.

Despite making a return from his muscle injuries, the ‘Iron-Man’ has only received 93 minutes of playtime in 2021 in the Serie A; finding himself benched by Andrea Pirlo three times in the last four (TransferMarkt).

In his 18-month adventure in Turin, Demiral has faced major competition from £76m man Matthijs de Ligt and the veteran Leonardo Bonucci. In essence, he has never had consistent play time to gain confidence and advance to the next level.

However, I believe that Tottenham Hotspur is the perfect club for Demiral to adapt and level up, especially because his toughness and aggression can fit the team perfectly. In my opinion, Demiral’s passion and potential is a missing piece in the Spurs defence.

Now I know that the Premier League is a lot more unpredictable and tougher than the Serie A, however, there is an insistent title race in Italy this year.

Despite his young age, Demiral is a leader for Turkey and a confident player on the ball. His high success of tackles, passing and aerial duels are a result of his disciplined style of play.

With Mourinho relying on defensive football and a potential Champions League spot coming up next season, increasing the squad depth with such a high prospect is crucial for Spurs.

According to sources, The Old Lady have set a price of £45m for the 22-year-old. Many top-flight clubs are said to be circling for a purchase, including fellow Premier League teams Liverpool and Leicester City (Fanatik).

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