Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Quentin Merlin, who is a left-back for French club Nantes. The energetic defender caught the eye of Steven Gerrard and sporting director Johan Lange while they were scouting Boubacar Kamara. The two featured in Marseille’s win over Nantes in April.
The player is only 20 years old and has shown a lot of promise. An attack-minded fullback, he likes to get forward and cross the ball. He adds creativity from deep which can help Villa’s talented forward line.
The defender is well-versed with both a back 4 and back 3. His talents, however, shine when he is given more freedom to demonstrate his attacking prowess.
Merlin: The Next Superstar At Villa?
Merlin will be a very suitable addition to Gerrard’s squad. The ex-Liverpool man has placed emphasis on creativity from wider areas in his system. The signing of Lucas Digne from Everton was a clear indication of this. The former Everton man has praised Gerrard for giving him license to roam forward
Merlin will fit in like a glove here. The young French defender has all the attributes of a modern full-back and can slot in perfectly at Villa Park.
Overall, it would be a real steal if the Birmingham side can get their hands on Merlin. He has gone under the radar, but his attacking numbers are right up there with some of the top players in his position. The game today is dominated by young, explosive wide defenders who add to the attacking dimension. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Achraf Hakimi, Alphonso Davies and Reece James are some examples of these players who can make things happen in an instant. Merlin has strong potential to be in a similar bracket. It remains to be seen how this saga progresses.
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