Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers Target Juventus' Merih Demiral

Premier League clubs Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers are both reportedly interested in Juventus centre back Merih Demiral.

Juventus signed the 22-year-old Turkey international 12 months ago for £16.2m from fellow Serie A side Sassuolo. After spending the vast majority of the first half of the season on the bench - playing second fiddle to fellow summer signing Matthijs de Ligt - Demiral had battled his way into the starting lineup by the turn of the year.

However, Demiral's sixth consecutive start lasted less than 20 minutes as he suffered a severe cruciate ligament rupture against Roma in January - only returning to Juve's bench in mid-July.

While De Ligt has gradually improved after a prolonged run in the team - thanks in no small part to his teammate's injury - Demiral has garnered the interest of the Premier League pair Leicester and Wolves according to journalist Nicolò Schira.

Demiral may have scarcely featured for the defending Serie A champions but Juventus are thought to be reluctant to let such a prospect depart after one, injury riddled, campaign. Schira - a self-styled 'Expert in the Transfer Market' - claims that the club have reject a bid of €30m plus add-ons.

This is not the first time Leicester have made an approach for Demiral. Just a week before his knee injury the Foxes had a bid for the talented centre back rejected by Juventus in January. The advances of Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund were also swiftly batted away at a time when the club insisted they weren't open to any offers for the Fenerbahce youth product.

Brendan Rodgers' side boast Demiral's international teammate Çağlar Söyüncü at the heart of their defence. Although, the highly-touted 24-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester City and Demiral may prove to be his replacement.

Source : 90min