Lyon will reportedly make a move to sign rumoured Aston Villa target Quentin Merlin if they miss out on Ajax star Nicolas Tagliafico, with Leeds United also chasing the Argentine defender.
According to L’Equipe, the French side are closing on agreeing to personal terms with Tagliafico after striking a transfer fee with Ajax, however, Lyon will make a move to sign Merlin if a deal for the 29-year-old left-back collapses at the home stretch, something that happened earlier in the window with Tyrell Malacia.
As per the report, Les Gones are big fans of Merlin, who has recently been linked with a move to Villa as Steven Gerrard looks to find a replacement for Matt Targett, who left Villa Park earlier in the summer transfer window on a permanent deal to Newcastle United.
Hailed as a ‘revelation’ for FC Nantes by the French media, Merlin was a key member of the Coupe de France-title winning side that will see the Ligue 1 club compete in Europe for the first time in over a decade, with the 20-year-old’s performances catching the eye of Villa scouts.
Indeed, Villa could be dealt a one-two punch if a deal for Lyon to sign Tagliafico collapses, with Leeds reportedly interested in the Argentine international, who is said to be available this summer for just £3m as Ajax look to offload the defender as quickly as possible.
Missing out on Merlin would sting for Villa, as would a rival side in Leeds signing a player of Tagliafico’s quality, with the defender arguably one of the best value-for-money signings that are there to be made this summer, with Lyon still working on getting a deal done for the South American.
Lyon signing Merlin would be a hammer blow for Villa
Villa have had one of the most efficient transfer windows out of any Premier League side so far this summer, yet Gerrard missing out on Merlin would be a big blow for the Villains, with Lyon seemingly keen to have the youngster lined up as an insurance option of Tagliafico falls through.
After all, at 20, Merlin is one of France’s most exciting defensive talents, and Villa missing out on the youngster to Lyon would be a blow, even more so if Leeds were to snap up Tagliafico as a late summer signing in the process.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
