Some of the biggest teams in European football are now interested in signing Celtic summer transfer target Quentin Merlin, according to a recent French article.
After scouting the Nantes left-back on several times, the Scottish Daily Mail revealed on its back page in August that the Bhoys were interested in making a £7 million bid for him.
According to reports, Nantes was aware of the “strong interest” and had planned to field bids, but nothing materialized before the window closed.
Although Greg Taylor and Alexandro Bernabei were Brendan Rodgers’ choices at left back before into the season, many supporters believe the position needs to be strengthened.
Celtic would have competition for Quentin Merlin
However, it might be challenging for Merlin to return in January as FootMercato in France revealed this past weekend that three major European clubs had contacted Nantes and the player’s representative.
RB Leipzig and Serie A winners Napoli are rumored to have contacted the Ligue 1 team to inquire about his availability for a January transfer.
Rich in cash According to the outlet, Paris Saint-Germain is also keeping a close eye on his circumstances and has already contacted his representatives over a potential transfer.
Having been a regular in the top division since he was young, Merlin is gaining recognition in France. He has already played 73 senior games for his team.
Despite only being 21 years old, he is a fixture in Thiery Henry’s U21 national team and appears set to make a significant impact in the upcoming year. It remains to be seen if Celtic can push their way into the discussion.
The Bhoys have plenty to offer the French prodigy if he is indeed available for a fee in the £7m–£10m area, and Scotland might be a better option for him to play regularly every week than the other teams who are reportedly vying for his services.
Celtic needs to give serious thought to bringing in strong competition for Taylor in the second part of the season, even if a move for Merlin isn’t successful.
