Player has been ‘requested by Newcastle’ – Club fear potential ‘rip-off’, evaluating ‘business risk’

Newcastle United are the latest Premier League side to get linked to Turkish defender Merih Demiral.

The Magpies’ interest is reported by outlet La Repubblica, who explains the complex situation the player could be going through in this transfer window.

Demiral belongs to Juventus and spent the last season at Atalanta. Despite his scheduled return to the Old Lady this summer, he may not have a place there, as manager Massimiliano Allegri is not so convinced about him.

That means the Bergamo side could use their €22m buying option to keep him and immediately sell him for more, since the player has been ‘requested by Newcastle’.

The problem is that this is a complicated operation, because Atalanta fear a ‘rip-off’, because if Newcastle pull back on their chase, then they’d be stuck with a player they might not necessarily want and €22m poorer.

The club are now said to be evaluating the ‘business risk’, meaning that if the Magpies show a stronger desire for the operation, everyone can find a solution.