The French U21 international is in high demand with Napoli also reportedly interested in his services. Merlin’s entourage have also been in contact with PSG over a potential transfer. Lyon and Nice were interested in signing the defender in the summer but no move materialised. 

However, the Nantes full-back has his sights on playing for his country at the Olympics in 2024 and that makes any potential transfer in the January window a complicated one. Leipzig are the most advanced club in the pursuit of Merlin having recently discussed the prospects of a move. Nantes asked for €10m in the summer but are likely to increase that price following the Frenchman’s impressive start to the season. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Augusto arrived from PAOK Salonika for a reported €5.5m fee over the summer and has since become a central figure in Les Canaris’ midfield. He has featured in all eight of Nantes’ Ligue 1 fixtures, starting the last seven. However, he is now set for a period on the sidelines. 

The former Brazil U23 midfielder was substituted just before half-time during Friday night’s 2-1 win over Strasbourg. The club have now revealed that Augusto suffered a sprain to his left knee. The exact period of absence has not been revealed, but Nantes have said that he will be unavailable for several weeks. 

It is a blow for Nantes given that he has already built a good understanding with midfield partner Pedro Chirivella. Samuel Moutoussamy, who scored against Strasbourg, will likely be the major benefactor from Augusto’s injury. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Nantes struggled in the opening two rounds of the season, losing to Toulouse and then Lille, however, they have only lost once since, against Rennes in the Breton derby in Round 7. Marcus Coco and Samuel Moutoussamy got the goals for Nantes in a result that provisionally lifts them to eighth in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table.

Aristouy replaced Antoine Kombouaré in the dugout of the Beaujoire towards the end of last season and guided Les Canaris to safety… just. They had been tipped to be embroiled in another relegation battle, however, their form since matchday three has allayed those fears. 

However, Nantes still needed to show a reaction following their defeat to Rennes, and Aristouy was pleased to see one. “I am pleased with what I saw. I don’t think we nicked the result. We could have even prevented the small fright at the end of the match (caused by Moïse Sahi’s late consolation),” said the Nantes manager, in a post-match press conference, transcribed by L’Équipe. 

The Frenchman added, “I was frustrated last weekend. I’m happy that we’re back on our feet, that we get things ticking again and most of all that we have rediscovered certainties in our game.”

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The Pan American Games are basically the Summer Olympic Games but scaled only to the Americas. The upcoming 2023 edition will take place in Chile, from October 20 to November 5. Marquinhos is therefore expected to miss a month’s worth of games with FC Nantes. The Brazilian winger is currently loaned out by Arsenal to the Ligue 1 side for the 2023-2024 season. The deal included no option to make the move permanent.

Compared to the other Brazilian players within Nantes’ squad (tireless defensive midfielder Douglas Augusto and exciting playmaker Adson), Marquinhos’ output with Les Canaris has been minimal. He started only one game with Pierre Aristouy’s side, totalling only 89 minutes on the pitch. He registered an assist during Nantes’ spectacular 5-3 home victory against Lorient. The Arsenal loanee was left out of the playing squad that won away at Strasbourg on Friday.

 Ouest-France understands that both Arsenal and FC Nantes agreed to make Marquinhos available for the Brazilian football team set to compete in the Pan American Games.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

A week on after falling to a clinical Elye Wahi-led RC Lens side, Patrick Vieira’s team was logically beaten by FC Nantes on Friday for Ligue 1’s eighth matchweek opening game. Les Canaris had the upper hand from the get-go and made their domination count with two quickfire goals before the hour mark, courtesy of strikes from right-sided wingback Marcus Coco and midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy. Moïse Sahi Dion halved the deficit for the Alsatians in injury time.

In the standings, Nantes have leapfrogged their opponents to temporarily go up in 8th place. Vieira’s tenure at the helm of Strasbourg so far can be considered a bit middling with the Alsatians gathering only nine points out of a possible 24. The former Arsenal legend’s gamble to switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation completely backfired against Pierre Aristouy’s enterprising side. “Nantes were completely superior to us in all aspects. It was a collective failure“, assessed Vieira in his post-game press conference transcribed by L’Equipe.

The 1998 World Cup winner with France admitted his Strasbourg side lacked character in decision-making as well as intensity and bravery. “We did not take enough risks as if we were lacking confidence. From start to finish, we did not show much. It’s our worst game since I took charge.” The former Crystal Palace head coach would take advantage of the upcoming international break to right those wrongs. Vieira’s Strasbourg will then face Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

With Mohamed suspended and Ignatius Ganago injured, Rennes loanee Abline looks set for his chance. The France youth international has seen his gametime limited, and against his parent club last weekend, he was ineligible. However, Abline has reportedly been training well, and he will now get his opportunity. 

Pierre Aristouy doesn’t have too many other selection concerns. Fabien Centonze won’t be fit to make the squad, whilst Arsenal loanee Marquinhos also misses out on the squad. However, his absence is not related to an injury and is simply down to the manager’s selection choice, L’Équipe understands.

Nantes likely lineup v Strasbourg

Alban Lafont; Quentin Merlin, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Eray Cömert, Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel; Douglas Augusto, Pedro Chirivella; Moses Simon, Florent Mollet, Adson; Matthis Abline. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Whilst Gabriel is yet to score and has just one assist for Strasbourg since his arrival, he has been one of the bright sparks for Strasbourg. Whilst Les Alsaciens currently sit eighth in Ligue 1, the performances from Patrick Vieira’s side have been largely unconvincing, with few of the summer recruits yet to show their true level. Gabriel is certainly an exception to this rule. 

Junior Mwanga is one of the players that has struggled. Vieira defended the midfielder, saying that he needs to adapt and highlighting his margin for progression. He looks set to start against Les Canaris on Friday, in place of Jessy Deminguet. 

Strasbourg likely lineup v Nantes

Matz Sels; Thomas Delaine, Gerzino Nyamsi, Lucas Perrin, Marvin Senaya; Junior Mwanga, Ismaël Doukouré, Habib Diarra; Dilane Bakwa, Lebo Mothiba, Ângelo Gabriel. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The homophobic chants in question were heard in the 21st minute of the match at Roazhon Park. After Benjamin Bourigeaud opened the scoring, Rennes’ ultras targeted their rivals with the chants. The rest of the stadium did not join in with the chants. 

The chants targeted Nantes in general, but also one of their own players. Matthis Abline is on loan at Nantes from Rennes but did not feature on Sunday due to his ineligibility against his parent club. 

Rennes must now answer to the LFP’s disciplinary commission on Thursday. It is the second such instance of such chants, following a similar event at the Parc des Princes last Sunday during Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-0 victory over Olympique de Marseille. On that occasion, the chants from the Ultras section were adopted by others in the stands. Rennes therefore don’t risk as serious a penalty, as reported by L’Équipe.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

“This is becoming our season’s common thread. We are capable of responding to contrary events“, Genesio said in his post-game press conference transcribed by Get French Football News. “We were able to keep track of the game, get back into it and show a lot of character to force a win.” Rennes have climbed up to 6th place courtesy of their only second win of the season. Les Rouge et Noir are with OGC Nice the only unbeaten side in Ligue 1. “This is such an unreadable league from one week to the next one. Consistency will pay off.“

Genesio’s side will travel to Spain on Thursday to face Villarreal in the Europa League’s group stage. On Sunday, Les Rouge et Noir will host Paris Saint-Germain. The former Lyon manager will be able to rely on striker Martin Terrier, whose return to injury was delayed through illness. “He will make his Roazhon Park return against Paris. It couldn’t be better.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

The visitors’ head coach believes that a strong majority of doubtful decisions always went in the hosts’ favor. “No big mistakes were made. But when there was a doubt, there was none. I expected something fair.” Aristouy acknowledged that both penalty calls against Nantes were correct, but he lamented the heavy atmosphere engineered, according to him, by Buquet, which altered the game’s emotional context. “I did not like the atmosphere at all.”

Aristouy also lamented his side’s performance and its lack of activity. “We did not produce a great game and we could have shown greater ambitions.” Rennes’ second goal, where France international left-back Adrien Truffert, had all the time to cross for Désiré Doué, was a tough pill to swallow for Aristouy. “That goal should have never happened. I struggle to comprehend this goal. We did not anticipate Truffert’s run. We shot ourselves in the foot.“

Nantes have fallen to 13th place in the standings. They will travel to BlueCo-owned RC Strasbourg Alsace next week.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval