Newcastle United turn down chance to sign £17million Juventus centre-back

Newcastle United passed on the chance to sign the man Juventus once regarded as the next Leonardo Bonucci.

Fully-fledged Turkey international Merih Demiral was offered to United last week by the Serie A side but in the end, Atalanta, the club where Newcastle have scouted him at in recent times, took up a €20million clause to buy him on a permanent basis.

An Atalanta statement read today: "Atalanta announce that the club have activated their option to purchase Merih Demiral on a permanent basis from Juventus."

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Sources in Italy say that this doesn't necessarily mean that this spells the end in Newcastle's interest as the purchase of the centre-back is deemed as a piece of shrewd business by the Bergamo club and he could be sold on for a profit. Yet, for now at least, Newcastle are looking elsewhere.

But the fact the Magpies resisted the chance to sign the former Sporting Lisbon man offers a hint of Newcastle's intentions behind the scenes on their pursuit of a centre-back. United have already turned down the chance to sign Burnley's soon to be out of contract England international James Tarkowski, with Everton