West Ham United are reportedly interested in Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, as David Moyes explores his options this transfer window.

After losing the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Declan Rice, the Hammers will require significant midfield reinforcements this summer, with the finances to welcome new faces thanks to the £105m sale of their captain.

Could West Ham sign Hakan Calhanoglu?

As reported by Italian outlet Calciomercato, relayed by Football365, the Irons are plotting a sensational move for the Turkey international.

The report details that the 29-year-old is being ‘seriously targetted’ by the Premier League side, who could be prepared to pay Inter’s €50m (£43m) asking price.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

It’s added that the interest could depend on the future of Lucas Paqueta, who is mentioned by the Italian outlet as being subject to expected interest this summer.

How good is Hakan Calhanoglu?

Hailed as “exceptional” by AC Milan manager Stefano Piolo during his time with the Rossoneri, the midfielder could add a creative swagger to proceedings at the London Stadium.

Raised through the ranks in Germany, the Turkey international has secured 78 caps and 17 goals for his country, as well as recording 106 domestic goals and 122 assists in his recorded career appearances, via Transfermarkt.

The midfielder’s name was introduced to the forefront of the Bundesliga after he rifled in a 41-metre direct free-kick against Borussia Dortmund for Hamburg in 2014.

Despite having innate set-piece strengths, the 29-year-old has been lauded as a “phenomenon” for his efforts in Milan by former international manager Fatih Terim.

Having spent time on either side of the San Siro, Calhanoglu has netted 32 goals and recorded 53 assists in his career in Serie A, making him a strong acquisition for Moyes to chase this summer.

Averaging 4.58 shot-creating actions per 90 over the past year, the Turk is a competent figure to unleash in the final third from the middle of the park, where he ranked in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in this area, via FBref.

His numbers accumulated over the past year have seen him compared statistically to Newcastle United new boy and former AC Milan teammate Sandro Tonali, who has been praised as “class” by journalist Jordan Cronin already in the North East.

Tonali’s arrival in England is eagerly anticipated due to his performance in Italy prior to his move to the Magpies, however, Moyes could now identify his answer to the Italian by making a swoop for Calhanoglu.

The former Milan duo have strengths in their distribution, and added an ounce of superiority in the midfield, as highlighted by their averages in Serie A last term.

As per FBref, the Newcastle new-arrival averaged 5.27 progressive passes and 2.06 key passes per 90 for the Rossoneri, while maintaining an average pass completion rate of 75.7% per 90.

The quality of the West Ham target is identifiable when comparing him to the talent of Tonali, with the Turkey international bettering the Italian with an average of 6.55 progressive passes and 2.67 key passes per 90 in Serie A, via FBref.

With an average pass completion rate of 83.2% per 90, the Turk could be the difference between Moyes’ side remaining as relegation candidates or firing up the table to compete at a higher level.

The Scotsman must follow the ambition of Eddie Howe by signing the Serie A ace, who could be the east Londoners answer to Tonali.

Transfer insider Dean Jones will be 'absolutely amazed' if Arsenal manage to seal a deal to bring in one of the finest talents in La Liga this window.

Is Ansu Fati leaving Barcelona for Arsenal?

According to La Vanguardia via Football London, both Arsenal and arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur have shown interest in offering Spain international Fati a route to the Premier League this summer.

Reports in Spain claim that Arsenal have taken a 'serious interest' in the £231k-a-week ace and have submitted a 'very serious' proposal to Barcelona; however, their advances are believed to have been rebuffed by both the player and his current employers.

Fati is content to stay at Barcelona for the duration of the upcoming campaign and La Blaugrana boss Xavi will respect his wishes despite speculation surrounding his future.

Earlier this year, Manchester City were keen on Fati and it was mooted that Barcelona would accept a bid in the region of £90 million for the 20-year-old in light of financial problems at the Catalan giants, as per Football Insider.

Last term, Fati made 51 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions, registering ten goals and four assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

Another Spanish outlet has indicated that Barcelona received an offer of €60 million for Fati from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal; nevertheless, he has no intention of moving to the Middle East despite their football revolution taking shape.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones has his 'doubts' over whether Arsenal could facilitate a move to bring Fati to the Emirates Stadium.

Jones stated: "I will be absolutely amazed if Ansu Fati ends up at the Emirates. He’s obviously got a lot of talent but his injury record and valuation brings about other concerns.

"I don’t think Arsenal are finished in the transfer market and I think that an attacking player is actually possible – but Fati? I still have these doubts."

What else could occur at Arsenal in the remaining stages of the window?

Arsenal look to be in good shape to mount a Premier League title challenge this term following the additions of Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz; however, Mikel Arteta may want to fine-tune his squad with one or two more signings before the end of the window, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Calciomercato, Arsenal are keen on sanctioning a deal for Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella and would be willing to include striker Folarin Balogun and defender Takehiro Tomiyasu in a swap deal to entice the Italy international to north London.

The Sun report that Kieran Tierney is wanted on loan by La Liga outfit Real Sociedad; however, Arsenal are only keen to let the Scotland international move for a fee of around £30 million.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has shared updates from Jorginho's agent Joao Santos speaking about his client's future at Arsenal on Twitter X, which read: "Jorginho’s agent João Santos: 'I’m sure, Jorginho will stay at Arsenal. He’s happy in England. Let’s move on'. 'I had some calls from Saudi and also Spanish clubs like him but he’s staying at Arsenal, it’s decided', told TMW."

It was promotion crunch time in Division Two, but in The Meet café and bar, which has fed and watered Leicestershire supporters for a lifetime, there was little sign of rising tension. Every Northants fielder must have been desperate for news from Hove, while their promotion rivals Nottinghamshire were staging a recovery, but in The Meet nobody was noticeably checking scores on their mobile phone. Assuming they had remembered to bring one.Elsewhere in the cricketing ether, ramifications were discussed on cricket blogs, or bursts of excitement were released onto Twitter. But the inhabitants of The Meet have seen promotion seasons come and go and the world has not noticeably been any better or worse for it. Indeed, the days when promotion and relegation did not exist seem like only yesterday. In Leicestershire, who had some fine years in the one-divisional structure a generation ago, such an egalitarian set-up is doubtless viewed fondly.The Meet has seen it all too. This essentially ugly structure (albeit skilfully tarted up under the latest management) has twice been transported from former Leicestershire grounds in the days when every penny counted.Still, looking sagely into the mid-distance did have its attractions for the denizens of The Meet. Mark Cosgrove was in the later stages of a delightful 80 from 139 balls, enough for Leicestershire to reach 270 and set Northants 197 for victory. Leicestershire are seeking their first win, but Northants must buckle down to the run chase in the hope of a calamitous final day for Nottinghamshire. There is reason to see out the season on the final day.Cosgrove, the Australian left-hander, is one of the unappreciated delights of the county circuit. He has amassed 1,000 first-class runs in each of the last three seasons, a persistent consolation during difficult times. When he is not bullying the ball from his presence with powerful pulls or freeing his arms for fulsome drives, he also possesses a strikingly delicate touch. Northants might have adopted the nickname of “The Chubsters”, but Cosgrove is “King Chubster”, a player of heft and quality. A player of international pedigree.But even with Cosgrove on strike, it was tempting to stride into the middle of The Meet and exclaim: “But don’t you know what’s happening at Hove?” Leicestershire putting up batting resistance against Northants on the other side of the window was only half the story. On the south coast, Harry Gurney, who made his first-class debut for Leicestershire 10 years ago – and against Northants to boot, there’s a conversation topic – before Notts tempted him 30 miles up the A46, was playing the innings of his life.At the precise second that Gurney, on his way to the heady heights of 42 not out, saved the follow-on and probably won Notts promotion in the process, a spectator rose from her seat, but only to join a small queue for a flapjack and cup of tea from the Friends of Grace Road stall. (“Sorry, we’ve had a run on the cakes, but I suppose that’s better than a run on the pound,” said the volunteer who had presumably recently retired from an economic think tank).Leicestershire’s second innings had failure as well as success. Michael Carberry has England caps behind him, but two more failures in this match have done little to justify the award of a disturbingly lavish two-year contract wich seems out of kilter with Leicestershire’s more considered development plans. Carberry must gather his thoughts over the winter and prove his worth.The Northamptonshire seam attack, shorn of the injured Rory Kleinveldt, lacked a third seamer and Cosgrove took his chance to ease into his full repertoire. As Leicestershire’s innings progressed, Northants became increasingly reliant on the spin of Rob Keogh and Simon Kerrigan. Kerrigan, the left-arm spinner on loan from Lancashire, could delight in four wickets, two of them stumped, including Aadil Ali, who made a neat 37 and was then drawn into a charge and miss. He deserves regular cricket.Northants are favourites on the final day, but this game is not yet settled. Win or lose a side that survived early-season injuries – they could only summon 15 players for their pre-season photo call – they have turned in a creditable season. Big ambitions from little resources. Admirable stuff.

Champions League finalists Inter Milan are "fighting off" transfer rivals Monaco to secure the signing of Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.

Who is leaving Arsenal?

Gunners transfer chief Edu Gaspar has done wonders to back Mikel Arteta with a few huge signings, namely Kai Havertz, defender Jurrien Timber and club-record signing Declan Rice for over £200 million.

Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is also on his way to Arsenal, with the club now sealing an alternative to current number one Aaron Ramsdale.

After this serious spending spree, the north Londoners will need to continue balancing their books with more player sales. So far, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Auston Trusty, Pablo Mari, Matt Turner and long-serving midfielder Granit Xhaka come as the most notable departures.

Albert Sami Lokonga, who spent part of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, has also been heavily linked with an exit as league newcomers Burnley attempt to sign him on a temporary deal.

Nicolas Pepe is being chased by Turkish Super Lig sides Besikta and Fenerbache, while Balogun could come as, arguably, Arsenal's most high profile exit of the window.

Balogun enjoyed a prolific spell on loan at Reims last season, which may have significantly raised his stock as some reports suggest Arsenal won't sell for less than £50m.

Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…

Inter and Monaco have both been linked with moves for the USA international as they hope to add attacking flair before the window shuts.

CBS journalist Matteo Bonetti, taking to X recently, says Inter are determined to sign Balogun and are "fighting off" Monaco for his services.

Simone Inzaghi's side believe they have a trump card in the race, as they can offer him Champions League football next season.

"Inter are fighting off Monaco to secure the signing of the American striker Folarin Balogun," said Bonetti.

"The big difference being that Inter can offer him Champions League football. The 22 year old exploded last season with Reims in Ligue 1, where he scored 21 league goals."

How good is Folarin Balogun?

Barring his 21 goals in the French top flight last season, Balogun has been praised by Gunners boss Arteta for his quality and attitude behind-the-scenes.

Commenting on the "special" striker's loan spell at Reims last season, it's safe to say Arteta was very impressed with his efforts across the channel.

“I’m so happy for him,” Arteta said.

“He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the loan he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough."

An update has emerged on Leeds United and their attempts to strengthen the playing squad before the end of the summer transfer window…

What's the latest Leeds transfer news?

According to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath, the Whites are set to land Tottenham Hotspur central defender Joe Rodon on a season-long loan.

The reporter has stated that the west Yorkshire outfit have agreed on a deal with the Premier League side to secure the Wales international's services on a temporary basis.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

"Tottenham have agreed a deal for Wales centre-back Joe Rodon to join Leeds on a season-long loan. Formalities of deal to follow in coming days," he tweeted.

If the deal gets complete this week, it could see him available for the trip to face Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.

How good is Joe Rodon?

The 25-year-old titan is a proven Championship performer who also has top-level experience and would come in as a far better option than Robin Koch, who has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the season, for Daniel Farke.

Rodon spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Rennes in France and averaged a solid Sofascore rating of 6.88 across 16 Ligue 1 outings as he won 61% of his duels and completed 90% of his attempted passes.

Koch, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.63 over 36 Premier League matches for Leeds, which placed him 17th within the squad. The Germany international came out on top in 57% of his duels and finished the season with a pass completion rate of just 77%.

Both players were plying their trade in major European leagues and Rodon stood out above the former Freiburg man with his average performance level, quality in possession, and his strength in physical contests.

The Tottenham outcast's score for Rennes was also higher than any Whites defender managed last term as Max Wober led the way with a rating of 6.84, which means that the possible new signing could be the best central defensive option for the head coach this season.

This suggests that the 6 foot 4 colossus would be better for Leeds than Koch was for the club last term due to his ability on and off the ball at the heart of the defence.

Rodon would also come in with Championship experience from his time with Swansea earlier in his career.

During the 2019/20 campaign, the £24k-per-week gem averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99 across 21 appearances.

No Leeds player with at least five appearances averaged a Sofascore rating higher than 6.98 for the club last term and this suggests that the Spurs talent has the potential to be an outstanding performer for Farke.

Rodon, who was once hailed as "perfect" by ex-manager Jose Mourinho, would come in as a defender who can hit the ground running as he already knows the country and league, rather than coming in from a foreign club with no experience of English football.

This could allow him to make an immediate impact on the pitch as a way better option than Koch, and potentially the rest of Farke's centre-backs, which is why this signing could improve the squad and, therefore, the club's chances of earning promotion straight back to the Premier League over the next nine months.

Zimbabwe captain feels situational awareness which they lack at the moment will only come if they play more Tests

Liam Brickhill in Bulawayo25-Oct-2017Graeme Cremer, the Zimbabwe captain, rued his team’s batting failures after West Indies completed a 117-run win in the first Test in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe collapsed from 91 for 1 to 159 all out on the second day at Queens Sports Club, and crumbled again in similar fashion on the fourth day. Cremer suggested “we couldn’t quite work out how to score against their bowlers on this wicket”.”I thought on day one we were excellent with the ball and in the field,” Cremer said. “We had a really good opportunity there to go and put some runs on the board and put them under pressure, but we had too many soft dismissals on day two. For me it comes down to that first innings. Even if we had got 250, in their second innings they would have been under a bit more pressure.”Zimbabwe’s lapses on the second day allowed West Indies a 60-run first innings lead, and the visitors built on that thanks to patient innings from their top five. Their batsmen were, perhaps, helped by the fact that they have seven Tests to Zimbabwe’s two this year.”It makes it easier when you are playing a lot more Test cricket, because you learn how to play different situations and you realise how much time there is in the game,” Cremer said. “I thought West Indies did it really well in the second innings – they slowed the whole game down and never looked rushed. It’s something we need to learn to do a bit more, in those periods that are tough just soak up the pressure. Then the opposition search for wickets and you get to score. The more we play I’m sure we’ll get better at that.”Zimbabwe were eventually set the monumental task of scoring 434 or surviving six sessions to avoid defeat. “We thought we would just play normal, positive cricket, and if we batted out today we could assess where we were at and whether we needed to try and survive the day or go for it,” Cremer explained. “It wasn’t to be. To chase down 434 is always going to be tough, especially on a wicket that was starting to deteriorate. The West Indies were just a bit better.”One clear positive for Cremer was the return of batsman Brendan Taylor and new-ball bowler Kyle Jarvis. Though neither could affect the outcome of the game, both players put in telling performances. “They came in and it was like they never left,” he said. “Guys accepted them straight back in. It was great to see Jarvy with the new ball again – I thought he was good on a tough wicket. BT obviously didn’t score in the first innings but we saw in the second innings how good he is and how good he can be. It was just a pity he got out when he did.”Cremer also paid tribute to fellow legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who spearheaded West Indies’ attack with nine wickets in the match, without denying that there was a bit of friendly rivalry between the two. “Bish bowled really well,” Cremer said. “I thought I went okay, I lost rhythm now and again but that can happen. But there’s definitely that competition between legspinners, but Bish is a good guy and we’re mates. We will probably exchange tips after the series, but not now.”

A move to Tottenham Hotspur is something Manchester United's Harry Maguire would "consider", even without the lure of Champions League football, claims journalist Paul Brown.

Is Harry Maguire joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer?

In a shock to absolutely nobody, Spurs' summer window has once again been dominated by another Harry Kane transfer saga, with links to German giants Bayern Munich refusing to disperse and, if anything, getting stronger as the Bavarians become more bullish in their attempts to sign the England captain.

With only a year left on his £200,000-a-week deal, this saga will continue dominating the narrative around the Lilywhites until a decision is made.

However, this isn't necessarily the worst thing, as it might mean that the club can go about making their own signings with less scrutiny, and so far, they have added real quality to both the first team and squad.

The marquee signing is undeniably James Maddison, but Guglimlo Vicario and Manor Solomon look like shrewd acquisitions in a market increasingly losing any touch it once had with reality.

However, for as good as the recruitment has been thus far, the one area of the team that needs the most attention is centre-back, as the club managed to ship a staggering 63 goals across their 38 Premier League games last season.

The two names linked to the club the most over the last few weeks have been Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen and Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg. However, another name has recently entered the rumour mill, former United captain Maguire.

According to reports from Spain (via Football 365), the England international is emerging as a critical target for the Lilywhites as his time at Old Trafford looks to have finally come to an end.

What has Paul Brown said about Harry Maguire and Tottenham Hotspur?

Brown explained that even without the lure of Champions League football, Spurs is a club that Maguire would consider, primarily due to its size and stature.

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: "I think Maguire at Spurs is quite an interesting one. It might be a club he'd consider. I know obviously, they finished well off the Champions League pace last season, so I don't have that to offer him but I think you know, the size of the club and the reputation of it.

"I think it's something, I think it's a move he would consider."

Should Tottenham sign Harry Maguire?

One thing the club should be prepared for if they do pull the trigger on this signing is the fan backlash. The image Maguire has cultivated over the last few years is one of a walking disaster, and fans might fear the worst should he join.

However, as with many opinions in football, it's not entirely true, and the former Foxes man could certainly be useful to Ange Postecoglou in his new-look Spurs side.

His underlying numbers, for example, are actually quite impressive and suggest that in the right system, he could well get back to his best form, the form that saw him earn that £80m move to the Red Devils in the first place.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the "unbelievable" 6 foot 4 sits in the top 11% for blocks, the top 12% for aerial duals won, the top 13% for touches in the oppositions penalty area, the top17% for attempted passes, the top 19% progressive carries, and the top 26% for progressive passes received, all per 90.

It should also be noted that in the last World Cup, he was voted into Sky Sports' Team of the Tournament, and in Euro 2020 – when England almost won it all – he was named in the official Team of the Tournament.

Ultimately, if Spurs can get this deal done for a relatively low price and weather the stick and attention they'll surely get, this could end up being a great piece of business.

A Ranji Trophy match will be telecast for the first time this season, a ground will make its Ranji debut, and a team will play the first knockout match in its Ranji history

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2017A Ranji Trophy match will be telecast for the first time this season, a ground will make its Ranji debut, and a team will play its first quarter-final match in history as India’s premier domestic tournament reaches its quarter-final stage on December 7.Quarter-finals from December 7

Gujarat (B1) v Bengal (D2) – Jaipur

Delhi (A2) v Madhya Pradesh (C1) – Vijayawada

Kerala (B2) v Vidarbha (D1) – Surat

Karnataka (A1) v Mumbai (C2) – Nagpur

The match between 41-time champions Mumbai and the form team Karnataka, to be played in Nagpur where India beat Sri Lanka earlier this week, will be live on BCCI’s broadcast partners. Although select matches were webcast in the league stages, this will be the first match on TV. Karnataka blitzed through their group with four wins and two draws, and have among their ranks Mayank Agarwal, who has already reached 1064 runs and has sights on VVS Laxman’s record of 1415 runs in a single Ranji season. Mumbai, meanwhile, had to wait until Monday to ensure progress to the next round after having to launch rearguards in the league stages.Vijayawada’s Dr Gokaraju Liala Gangaaraju ACA Cricket Ground will make its Ranji debut as it hosts the match between Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. Delhi will likely be without their full-time captain Ishant Sharma, as the third Test starts on December 2, but could well be available should they make it to the semi-final. The ground has already hosted international cricket when the women’s teams from India and West Indies played each other in 2016, and made its first-class debut during a series between India-New Zealand A in September-OctoberThis will be the first time Kerala will play a quarter-final match since the introduction of the tier system in the Ranji Trophy format in 2011. With 31 points, they finished second to the defending champions and the dominant Gujarat side in Group B. With two centuries and an average of 57.70, a rejuvenated Sanju Samson has led their charge. Kerala will face Vidarbha in Surat. Vidarbha led Group D with 31 points.Gujarat, who won five of their six matches outright, will go up against Bengal in Jaipur.Unlike the league matches, which are four-day matches, quarter-finals will be played over five days. The BCCI did not explain how the match-ups was arrived at nor is there any information on how the semi-final match-ups will be decided.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes MS Dhoni needs to change his batting approach in Twenty20s to be successful. Ganguly also said Dhoni still has a lot of one-day cricket left in him, but he was more concerned about the wicketkeeper-batsman’s record in T20s. Ganguly’s blunt appraisal followed strong words of support Dhoni received from coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli last week.However, Ganguly felt the pair needed to tell India’s senior-most player to express himself more freely if they were to derive the most out of Dhoni’s batting. “His record in T20I is not that good compared to ODIs,” Ganguly said in Kolkata on Sunday. “I hope Kohli and the team management will speak to him separately. He has immense ability. If he approaches T20Is differently, then he will be successful. I think he should keep playing one-day cricket, but he has to play differently in T20Is. He has to play T20Is freely. It depends on the selectors and how they would like to play him.”Dhoni’s place in the T20 team became the topic of discussion after India’s 40-run loss in the second T20I against New Zealand in Rajkot. His 37-ball 49 raised questions as it elevated the required run rate in India’s chase of 197, even as Kohli struck a more aggressive 65 off 42 on a flat pitch. It prompted former players, most notably VVS Laxman, Dhoni’s former India team-mate, to question his strike rate and inability to hit big shots.Even as the debate has raged on about his future, Dhoni remained unruffled. In his first reaction, Dhoni refrained from responding to criticism, brushing it off gently while launching his first cricket academy overseas. “Everybody has views in life and it should be respected,” Dhoni said in Dubai on Saturday. “I have always felt that sport is one way of learning about life. How you deal with disappointments, how you are supposed to come in front of people when you have either you have won or lost a game. At the same time, how you stand up to criticism, and how you have an open mind about learning and improving yourself.”Dhoni stressed he was still inspired to play for the country and his hunger to perform had not diminished. “Representing the country is the best motivation for me. We play cricket for only a span of time. We play for one year to 15 years, some play for 20 years. But in a lifespan, say you live for 70 years, 10-15 years is nothing.”The only thing I can say is that I am representing my country. My biggest motivation is being part of the Indian cricket team. I have always believed that the process is more important than the result. At the end of the day when the match gets over, if I look into the mirror and say to myself that I have tried my best, then I am satisfied.”

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has been backed in the market this summer as the club have brought in six new signings during the transfer window.

Who have Celtic signed this summer?

The Hoops boss brought in Norwegian maestro Odin Thiago Holm and Australia international Marco Tilio as his first two additions of his second stint in charge.

He has since been able to sign Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Hyun-jun Yang, and Maik Nawrocki to bolster his options in midfield and in defence.

The Bhoys then completed their sixth piece of incoming business as Swedish ace Gustaf Lagerbielke was officially confirmed on Wednesday night, but there could be more to come from the Scottish giants after the Swedish defender's deal is completed.

Celtic were recently touted with an interest in Nantes left-back Quentin Merlin and this comes after links to former Parkhead star Kieran Tierney earlier this summer.

How good is Quentin Merlin?

The French defender, who has been valued at a minimum fee of €8m (£6.8m), is an excellent attacking full-back who could be a dream alternative to the Arsenal battler.

Whilst signing the Hoops academy graduate, who won 11 domestic trophies with the club, would be an exciting and sentimental piece of business, Tierney would be an expensive addition on loan due to his £120k-per-week wages.

Whereas, Merlin is reportedly on £7.7k-per-week at Nantes and would come in on a permanent basis, which means that Celtic would have a player with long-term potential – at the age of 21 – instead of only having him for one year, as would have been the case with the Scotsman.

Football FanCast recently published an article that explained why the France U21 international could be an upgrade on current Hoops left-back Greg Taylor, but would he be a better option than Tierney?

Their respective form for Nantes and Arsenal last season suggests that the talented youngster would offer more at both ends of the pitch.

Merlin averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.92 across 24 Ligue 1 outings and caught the eye with seven 'big chances' created and 2.3 tackles and interceptions per match.

Tierney, meanwhile, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.65 over 27 Premier League games for the Gunners as he made 1.1 tackles and interceptions per clash and failed to create a single 'big chance' for his teammates.

The Scotland international also lost 75% of his aerial duels and only made 0.1 key passes per match for the English giants, whereas Merlin came out on top in 52% of his headed contests and created 1.5 chances per appearance.

These statistics suggest that the Nantes star, who was once described as a "serious talent" by scout Jacek Kulig, could provide more creativity than Tierney from left-back by bombing on to produce passes and crosses into the box for the attackers to work with.

Merlin could also offer more defensive nous with his ability to consistently win possession back for his side with interventions to cut out opposition attacks, to go along with his superior aerial prowess, which is why he could be a dream alternative to Tierney for Rodgers.