Liverpool and Chelsea have been competing for the signature of Jeremy Jacquet and it looks just like the Reds have won the race.
The Rennes defender has change into some of the wanted young talents in Europe, with Bayern Munich also holding an interest in him.
The 20-year-old made his skilled debut for Rennes in January 2024 and after a loan spell with Clermont has returned to be a fixture in the primary team.
Jacquet is yet to be capped by the France senior team, but has played as much as Under-21 level and starred within the 2024 European Under-19 Championship, being named within the Team of the Tournament.
The Frenchman is now set for Liverpool, with The Athletic reporting that they’ve agreed a take care of Rennes for his signature.
The centre-back is not going to be arriving before the winter transfer window closes, though, as an alternative joining the Reds in June.
The report states that the deal shall be value £55m plus £5m in add-ons and private terms haven’t been an issue.
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It’s a boost for next season at Anfield, but doesn’t solve their current problems on the back, where they’ve been hit by a string of injuries.
They’re very short at right-back as Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are each out injured, meaning Dominik Szoboszlai played on the best of defence against Newcastle on Saturday.
Joe Gomez can also be out, leaving Arne Slot’s options at centre-back pretty minimal beyond the primary alternative pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
Liverpool identified centre-back as an area they needed to strengthen in the summertime and agreed a move for Marc Guehi, however the deal collapsed at the top of the window and he has since moved to Manchester City.
Facing the media last week, Rennes head coach Habib Beye made it clear he didn’t wish to lose ‘the most effective players’ in his team on the midway point of the campaign.
‘I consider that today he’s an important player for our objectives,’ Beye told reporters when asked if Jacquet might be on his way out of the club.
‘If tomorrow we were to let him go, we’d should lower our expectations.
Speaking earlier this month, Rennes boss Habib Beye was keen to maintain hold of Jacquet, which he’ll do for the remaining of the season before he departs.
‘When you could have offers from such a club, it could actually make things a bit of hesitant,’ said the previous Newcastle and Aston Villa player. ‘I’m very firm on this case. He’s a necessary player for us.’
He added: ‘He’s the most effective players in our team and so we’ve to withstand that approach,’ the ex-Newcastle and Aston Villa full-back added.
‘There are several aspects I don’t control in all of this. We’ll see what happens in the approaching days.’
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