Chelsea have made signing a centre-back their priority now that Liam Rosenior is settled into his seat at the Stamford Bridge helm.
There is a sense that the Blues are unhappy with their wide attacking options, something that was underlined during the festive period, when an enquiry was lodged for Bournemouth talisman Antoine Semenyo, who has since signed for Manchester City.
Semenyo Bournemouth stats (timeless)
But a five-match winless run in the Premier League tells of a need for more stability at the back for the west Londoners, and with Levi Colwill still a long-term absentee, the rearguard is an area to watch out for ahead of the final few weeks of the January transfer window.
How Chelsea plan to strengthen their defence
Chelsea have never been considered a leading candidate in the race for Crystal Palace skipper Marc Guehi, who is seemingly closing on a winter transfer to Man City.
Guehi isn't the only talented centre-half on the market, but he's a product of Chelsea's Cobham academy and has spearheaded Oliver Glasner's trophy-rich stint at Selhurst Park. If Chelsea require a fallback, they must ensure they hit the jackpot.
With that in mind, The Telegraph's Matt Law has now confirmed that a new centre-back is indeed at the top of Chelsea's wish list, with Jeremy Jacquet at the top of BlueCo's reckoning.
Insider Simon Phillips has corroborated this, confirming the young Frenchman is a "leading candidate" to join the Londoners.
jeremy-jacquet-stade-rennais
Jacquet, 20, has been excellent for Rennes since breaking from the Ligue 1 side's academy, and while £35m is a sharp figure, it's only going to mushroom as he continues to make waves over the coming years, with Arsenal and Liverpool among further interested parties.
Why Jacquet could be Chelsea's own Guehi
Jacquet is young, but he's played with such maturity and intelligence across the opening years of his professional career, leading analyst Ben Mattinson to suggest he has "top-five centre-back in the world potential".
Jacquet
His anticipation is remarkable, especially for one so inexperienced. As per FBref, Jacquet ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs across Europe for tackles won and the top 5% for interceptions per 90, telling much of his capacity to read the game like a scholar, then applying his knowledge to make the right decision at the right time.
With such composure, this could be Guehi 2.0, a player who Chelsea are bound to still harbour frustrations over selling to Crystal Palace for £18m in 2021.
Indeed, looking at the defenders' respective metrics in their respective divisions this term, it's clear to see that Jacquet is on his way to emulating one of the Premier League's finest, commanding on the ball while matching him for recoveries, rate of defensive contributions and success rate in the duel.
Guehi vs Jacquet - League Comparison 25/26
Stats (* per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals + Assists
Clean sheets
Touches*
Accurate passes*
Big chances created
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Clearances*
Duels won*
Data via Sofascore
While Chelsea have a wealth of options at their disposal, Rosenior's side perhaps lack the kind of quality required to solidify their backline and close the gap on table-topping rivals Arsenal.
The Gunners, of course, are in for Rennes' prized defender, and so it's clear that Chelsea could hit the jackpot by signing a player deemed worthy of a role in Mikel Arteta's backline.
An "insane centre-back in the making", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig, Jacquet is one for the future, to be sure, but he's also emerged as a mainstay in a strong Rennes backline; the French side are sixth in the standings, trailing third-place Marseille by only two points.
Just imagine how much progress he might have made in five years time, a core part of a Chelsea defence expected to serve as the bedrock of a multi-title-winning team.
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