Man City battle West Ham for star defender deal as Chelsea could lose fourth player to same club

Highly-rated Nantes defender Quentin Merlin is said to have interest from clubs in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A.

The France Under-21 left-back has firmly established himself as a key player for the Ligue 1 club and was part of the Nantes side that lifted the Coupe de France with a 1-0 win over Nice in May 2022. Since making his debut in a cup defeat against Lens just under 18 months prior to that final win, Marlin has gone on to make 73 appearances in all competitions for Les Canaris, scoring three goals and providing six assists during that time.

His consistent form has led to links with several of European football’s biggest clubs and the likes of Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Napoli and Celtic are all said to have the defender on their radar ahead of the January transfer window. Interest from the Premier League is said to come from Manchester City and West Ham United according to 90min as the race for Merlin’s signature intensifies.

The 3AM Verdict: There is no questioning Merlin’s ability and he has quickly become one of Ligue 1’s most widely admired talents. As a surefire future France international, the young defender would be quite the addition for any Premier League club - although there seems to be intense competition from around Europe.

Serie A giants consider loan move for Chelsea star

AC Milan are reportedly keen to add to the list of former Chelsea players within their squad by making a loan move for defender Trevoh Chalobah.

Football London have claimed the Blues are prepared to allow the defender to depart in a loan deal during the January transfer window after he has failed to make a senior appearance in any competition so far this season. Italian outlet CalcioMercato have reported AC Milan are considering a move for the England Under-21 international and could benefit from the presence of a number of former Blues within their squad.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori are all currently plying their trade with the Serie A giants and the trio could play a part in persuading Chalobah to follow them to the San Siro as both he and Chelsea seek to find a resolution to his short and long-term future over the coming months.

The 3AM Verdict: Chalobah has really wasted the current season and needs regular first-team football to ensure he realises his unquestionable talent and potential. The defender should look to fellow Blues academy graduate Fikayo Tomori as an example of how a career can be reinvigorated by a move to Milan.

Real Madrid plan move for reported Liverpool target

Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala is said to be attracting interest from Liverpool and La Liga giants Real Madrid as both clubs consider an alternative to reported target Kylian Mbappe.

The Germany international has been in fine form so far this season after scoring four goals and providing three assists in 13 appearances in all competitions for the reigning Bundesliga champions. Speculation over his future at Bayern has intensified in recent weeks and there have been suggestions he could depart the club next summer.

German outlet Bild have claimed Real are prepared to make a big money offer to Bayern as they seek to add more attacking talent to their squad.

The 3AM Verdict: Musiala has been one of the most exciting wingers in European football in recent years and it would be no surprise to see any major club taking an interest in his services. However, given his importance to Bayern, it would be a shock if he was allowed to depart.