Celtic Eye France U21 Starlet in Potential Big-Money Move

According to Mail Sport, Celtic are weighing up a significant move this summer, with their sights set firmly on France U21 left-back, Quentin Merlin.

The 21-year-old prodigy, currently plying his trade at Nantes, has been on Celtic’s radar for some time now. Sources indicate that scouts from the Scottish giants have taken several trips to France to assess Merlin’s abilities firsthand.

While Nantes is reportedly clued into Celtic’s growing interest, they’re not willing to part with their young star easily, setting a price tag north of £7 million.

This piece of transfer news raises a few eyebrows, especially when considering Celtic’s current left-back situation. The Bhoys have the services of Greg Taylor and Alexandro Bernabei, both of whom have the chance to play a key role in the bhoys season.

The potential addition of Merlin would undoubtedly bolster the depth in that position, but it does beg the question: with two competent left-backs already in the fold, is there a place for a third?

Additionally, with Brendan Rodgers recently making his much-anticipated return to the club, fans are curious to see if the Merlin move could be his first marquee signing. It’s a statement of intent that could underline Rodgers’ ambition in his second spell with the Hoops.

With the transfer window’s sand rapidly slipping through the hourglass – less than three weeks remain – any potential deals need to be more than whispers. It’s crunch time, and if Quentin Merlin is to don the famous green and white hoops, negotiations will need to escalate quickly.