Quentin Merlin underlines Celtic transfer hype as meteoric rise has him listed alongside Messi and Mbappe

Celtic-linked Quentin Merlin has shot to prominence in Ligue 1 and his standout performances Nantes have seen him included in a prestigious list of the best talents in France.

The Get French Football News 100 comprises the top players in France and it was a list topped by Paris Saint-Germain’s superstar trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. But Merlin was a new entry at a respectable No. 58 – sandwiched between PSG’s £20million Spanish star Fabian Ruiz and Lyon’s young star Malon Gusto.

The players are drawn from the 19 French top flight clubs and the way £7million-rated Merlin was described will certainly excite Celtic fans Brendan Rodgers does make a move for the left back. “It has been a year punctuated by milestones for Merlin,” they wrote. “From his first goal for the club, against no other than Paris Saint-Germain back in February, to his first call-up to the France under 21 squad. Amongst those individual milestones, which mark a swift and positive progression, are a set of important collective achievements.

“He was a starter as Nantes beat OGC Nice in the Coupe de France final back in May, whilst, this season, he has been part of the team that competed in and progressed from a difficult Europa League group. At the impressionable age of 20, such crucial experiences can mould a player, and a European campaign can only be a positive for his development.

Like many of the new generation of full-backs, Merlin is most comfortable going forward. A raw talent, he is a great progresser of the ball down Nantes’ left side, and is an adept and frequent crosser of the ball, making the seventh most crosses into the box in Ligue 1 this season. Like many young defenders, it is the defensive side that needs the most