Premier League side Bournemouth has reportedly shown significant interest in Marseille full-back Quentin Merlin, who is 23 years old. The English club is understood to be keeping a close eye on the France U21 international, with scouts having noted his performance during the final weeks of the Ligue 1 season.
Merlin has been on Bournemouth`s list of potential targets since early spring. He was identified in recruitment discussions as the South Coast team looks to bolster its options at left-back this summer. While a formal offer has not yet been made, interest remains active. Any potential transfer move might need to wait until after the U21 European Championship, which is scheduled to start on June 11 in Slovakia.
The former Nantes player is expected to be included in France`s final squad for the upcoming U21 tournament. Having narrowly missed selection for the Paris Olympic squad last year, this competition provides Merlin with an opportunity to further enhance his reputation on the international stage.
Merlin`s recent season under manager Roberto De Zerbi at Marseille has seen mixed results. Although he sometimes thrived in the new tactical setup, his role was occasionally impacted when the team shifted to a system with three defenders and wing-backs later in the season. Despite these fluctuations, the 23-year-old participated in 27 matches for Marseille this season, contributing one goal and three assists from either the left-back or left-wing back position.
