A report in France has picked up on speculation that Celtic are interested in signing Quentin Merlin from Nantes.
The defender was mentioned on Twitter a couple of weeks ago as a potential Celtic target but a move to another French side seemed more likely.
Celtic’s supposed interest in signing Kieran Tierney came to a halt over the weekend when he moved to Real Sociedad on loan which perhaps explains the revived ‘interest’ in Merlin.
This morning the Daily Record did a catch all Celtic transfer piece that covered Luis Palma, Daniel Podence and Merlin which seems to have triggered some activity at the French end.
A network called BUT (Goal) has a dedicated section to each club with BUT Nantes reporting:
The last days of the summer transfer window promise to be hectic on the side of FC Nantes. As always since Waldemar Kita is in place. But it is not only in the direction of arrivals that there is a risk of being bottled up. Departures could take place and some may concern players important to Pierre Aristouy, such as Quentin Merlin, for example.
The left piston was announced in Celtic’s sights two weeks ago by the Scottish press. Since then, the Bhoys have been eliminated from the League Cup (by Kilmarnock, 0-1) and have just been held in check by Saint-Johnstone (0-0) at home. Results unworthy of their status.
The manager, Brendan Rodgers, asks his leaders for reinforcements. It would be a question of four to five arrivals by Friday! For the left-back position, Merlin has been mentioned, as has Kieran Tierney. But the child of the club, in an impasse at Arsenal, was loaned to Real Sociedad. It is therefore very likely that Celtic will quickly return to the charge for the Canary …
Greg Taylor was the established left-back for two seasons under Ange Postecoglou with Alexandro Bernabei signed last summer to provide competition.
In the four matches played under Brendan Rodgers Taylor has looked badly out of form with no real sign of Bernabei posing a threat for the left-back position.
Stephen McGowan and David Friel have both reported that Celtic are looking to bring in a left-back before the transfer window closes but as things stand Rodgers has two fit and available options for that position while central defence is barely covered by Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales.
Injuries have exposed the limitations of the Celtic squad with a central defender and a midfielder as well as Luis Palma likely to be the priorities for Mark Lawwell and his recruitment team.
Twenty-one year old Merlin has been the regular left-back at Nantes for the last two seasons and has started all three Ligue 1 matches this season.
CLICK HERE for Merlin’s Transfermarkt profile.
FC Nantes – Mercato : une offensive de dernière minute du Celtic Glasgow pour Merlin ? https://t.co/BTt4HZG3J3
— But! Football Club (@club_but) August 28, 2023
