Credit: Anfield Watch

The 20-year-old French under-21 international defender Jeremy Jacquet will be joining Liverpool in the summer, after completing the current season with Rennes, where he will now remain on loan.

The £55m initial deal, with another £5m in possible add-ons, will bolster Arne Slot’s Liverpool defence but it isn’t clear if the centre-back will join skipper Virgil van Dijk as an additional defensive option, or an outright replacement for the out-of-contract Ibrahima Konate in the summer.

Signed, sealed, not yet delivered…

Credit: MEN

Jeremy Jacquet will not be at Anfield until the summer and that means this January transfer window saw no significant signings at Liverpool. 

This is despite concerns over their defence as well as attacking options shown lacking in recent matches, due to injuries and unavailability. 

Liverpool had looked to bolster defensive personnel in the January window with Marc Guehi who instead favoured Manchester City and the generous £300k per week salary (reportedly) which left the Reds with little promise heading towards the January window closing yesterday.

Jacquet staying back at Roazhon Park as a loanee now means there is no immediate relief to Liverpool’s injury-hit defence that’s also ageing and/or nearing the ends of their contracts.

Dutch right-back Jeremie Frimpong and England defender Joe Gomez’s recent injuries have further strained a backline already without Giovanni Leoni and Connor Bradley this season.

Jeremy Jacquet - Who is he?

Credit: BBC

Last season, the then-19-year-old Jacquet was loaned out to Clermont where he played over 1,400 minutes in 17 appearances and then recalled by Rennes, where he quickly established himself at the back.

As a right footed central defender who has also played at right-back, he will be an additional option for the spot usually occupied by the likes of Frimpong, Gomez and Bradley - all three of whom are currently out injured.

Given the nature of Jacquet’s deal, that conundrum will not be addressed now but Liverpool will hope it does in the long run. So much so, he has been called “the real deal” by French pundit Julien Laurens, despite not having played at senior international level, nor club level in Europe.

A promising youngster despite the relevant lack of experience -  was the verdict by European football pundit Kevin Hatchard on Sky Sports News, for a player who is “good on the ball, good passing range, athletic, great in the air - but he doesn't have a long record of top-level football.”

Head & Shoulders Above The Rest

Credit: Sky Sports

Aerial ability may well be what Liverpool are excited about, given Jeremy Jacquet has been the most successful in the air in Ligue 1 this season. 

According to Sky Sports figures, he has won 75.5% of his aerial duels this French league campaign, which is close to Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate’s Premier League figures this season, at  77.3% and 73.3% respectively.

His quick rise at Rennes was also highlighted by Hatchard, along with the fact the French side wanted him to complete this season before joining Liverpool: His coach Habib Beye said 'if we let him go this season, we'll have to downgrade our goals for the season'."

While agreeing on Jacquet’s quality, French World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry did question his price tag met by Liverpool, branding them “un pigeon” (a sucker) for spending almost £60m on a young player who Rennes will still have until next season.

His delayed arrival hasn't gone un-noticed by former players and pundits. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was pleased at a signing that, along with Giovanni Leoni, indicates their ambitions for the future. He also welcomed Jacquet being compared to Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. 

However, he as well as former Arsenal player Paul Merson also stressed on reality as it stands - “Liverpool need a centre-back now!”

Getting One Over on Chelsea

Credit: Chelsea News

For Chelsea, it means missing out to Liverpool, on a player they had already agreed personal terms with but could not agree with Rennes’ demanded fee for him. 

For Liverpool, it is a turnaround of sorts after missing out on two sought-after targets to The Blues in 2023 - defensive midfielders Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Romeo Lavia from Southampton.