Coach says £16m colossus is the ‘heir to Chiellini’ amid reports Everton want him

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A player reportedly on the radar of Everton head coach Carlo Ancelotti has been compared to one of the greatest defenders in recent football history.

According to a Tuttosport report from earlier in April, Everton are one of the Premier League clubs keeping tabs on Juventus defender Merih Demiral.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a swift and impressive rise since leaving Fenerbahce’s academy on a free transfer and joining Portuguese lower-league side Alcanenense in the summer of 2016.

In just three years, Demiral went from Alcanenense to Juventus via Sporting CP, Alanyaspor, and Sassuolo, who were paid around £16million by the Serie A champions for the player’s services.

Unfortunately for the Turkey international, he suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the start of the year, but is expected to be back in action in July (Transfermarkt).

Despite his injury, Demiral continues to be linked with other clubs, with Everton reportedly joined by Leicester City and the Manchester duo in the pursuit of the 6ft 2in colossus.

Carlo Ancelotti seems to be interested in Demiral, having watched him in Italy at Sassuolo and Juventus, and allegedly wants to bring him to Goodison Park.

Mircea Lucescu, who handed the ex-Sassuolo star his debut for the Turkish national team, believes the player could go on to emulate Giorgio Chiellini at the Allianz Stadium, in conversation with TuttoJuve.

“Only a player of high talent can make the big jump from Sporting to Juve in the space of a few years, wherever he’s gone he’s always done very well and this meant he could have a great future. He’ll be the worthy heir to Chiellini.”

Lucescu was also asked whether Juve should part ways with him if an offer comes in, and he replied: “In all honesty I don’t know what the board’s plans are for him, certainly if the club needs money, then they should sell him.

Besides, at this moment in time, he doesn’t look like he’s in Juve’s starting plans. I can see him doing well in the Premier League, it’s a league that would be suited to his characteristics.”

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Giorgio Chiellini has been a superb servant for Juve, helping the team win eight Scudettos in a row from 2012 to 2019, and could well help make it nine in a row.

However, he is 35 years old and in the twilight of his career, so it’s as good a time as any for the Bianconeri to look to the future.

While Lucescu feels that Demiral certainly has what it takes to become the next Chiellini, he also didn’t shut the door on a potential move, in case of money issues or the player seeking first-team football.

With this in mind, Everton should certainly continue looking into a player who continues to earn plaudits and is deemed a great fit for the Premier League.