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Juventus Transfers: Atalanta ready to complete permanent purchase of Merih Demiral

By James Cormack

BERGAMO, ITALY - APRIL 27: Merih Demiral of Atalanta BC reacts during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Torino FC at Gewiss Stadium on April 27, 2022 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY - APRIL 27: Merih Demiral of Atalanta BC reacts during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Torino FC at Gewiss Stadium on April 27, 2022 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images) /
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Merih Demiral will join Atalanta permanently. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
Merih Demiral will join Atalanta permanently. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images) /

Atalanta are ready to complete the permanent signing of Juventus defender Merih Demiral as his one-year loan deal with La Dea draws to a close.

The Bianconeri signed Demiral from Sassuolo in 2019 and, initially, there were high hopes that he would go on to establish himself as Matthijs de Ligt’s long-term centre-back partner in Turin.

However, injuries saw him become surplus to requirements under Andrea Pirlo’s tutelage and Juve opted to part ways with the 24-year-old last summer as Massimiliano Allegri returned to the club.

The Bianconeri negotiated a loan with Atalanta, who had just lost Cristian Romero to Tottenham, which offered La Dea an option to buy Demiral permanently at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Atalanta are ready to complete the permanent purchase of Merih Demiral from Juventus

Demiral joined Atalanta off the back of a difficult European Championship with Turkey, but he’s shone in Bergamo as part of Gian Piero Gasperini’s heavy man-oriented defensive approach.

The 24-year-old has made 25 Serie A appearances this season, although his minutes have dwindled in recent weeks with talented youngster Giorgio Scalvini beginning to gain greater prestige at a senior level.

Nevertheless, the Turkish international has certainly done enough this term to convince Atalanta that he’s worth keeping for the long haul. According to Goal Italia’s Romeo Agresti, La Dea are set to complete the permanent purchase of Demiral in the coming weeks for a fee in surplus of €20m.

Juventus, meanwhile, believe they’ve already signed the 24-year-old’s replacement in the form of Federico Gatti from Frosinone. The Bianconeri signed Gatti back in January before loaning him back to the Serie B outfit for the remainder of the season.

The Italian defender is set to join up with Allegri’s squad in the summer, with Juve poised to make more defensive moves in the upcoming transfer window.

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