Quentin Merlin (23) was brought in as the replacement for Adrien Truffert, who left formative club Stade Rennais to join Bournemouth over the summer. Arriving for a €13m fee from Olympique de Marseille, expectations wer high for the former France youth international, however, Merlin has struggled to live up to those expectations during the opening half of the Ligue 1 season. 

Merlin began the season as a starter under Habib Beye, but since the end of October, he has found his gametime limited, largely due to the successful tactical tweak that has seen Rennes line up in a 3-5-2, with Moussa Al-Tamaari, a forward by trade, acting as a marauding wing-back.

According to a report from Foot Mercato, Merlin has grown increasingly frustrated by his diminished role at the Breton club, and an exit in January could even be on the cards. His entourage, however, are calling for patience and are not looking to force a move away from Roazhon Park.