It looks as if Jeremy Jacquet will be the latest European talent to swap his boyhood club for the lure and illustriousness of Chelsea in the next few days – but Chelsea are wasting £60m.
Jacquet has thrown himself onto the European stage with his form for Rennes over the last 12 months. Breaking into Rennes’ side last season and playing 12 times, this term has seen Jacquet become key.
Until early December, Jacquet had played every single minute of Ligue 1 action for Rennes before a red card against PSG. Suspension has halted Jacquet but when available, he plays for the French outfit.
On Sunday, Jacquet was suspended again amid rumours he was not in the squad due to Chelsea closing in on a deal. Indeed, reports say that Jacquet has agreed a move to Chelsea but a fee is not as close.
IMAGINE: You have the final say on Chelsea’s three-man centre-back shortlist. Who will you pick?
The three centre-back targets under consideration at Chelsea:
Jeremy Jacquet
Jacobo Ramon
Marcos Senesi
Đorđe Petrović and Marcos Senesi of Bournemouth
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Jeremy Jacquet is a huge talent and Chelsea need a defender
There is no doubt that Chelsea need a defender. Wesley Fofana is probably Chelsea’s best but has been injury-prone in the last couple of seasons, while Benoit Badiashile is a level below Chelsea’s other players.
Trevoh Chalobah can’t get his positioning right at the moment, and Tosin is a solid option, but still has an error in him. Chelsea need a centre-back they can rely on, who can bring the best out of the others.
Jeremy Jacquet of Rennes and teammates celebrate the victory
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
Jacquet has proved he can play on the highest level and not only that, but at 20, is already a leader in this Rennes side. But is he what Chelsea need, when the pressure and expectation is so much higher?
Chelsea spend big regularly – it cost a combined £100m to land Axel Disasi, Badiashile, and Jorrel Hato. Jacquet is a player with huge potential, a future France star, a future captain. But is he ideal, right now?
Signing Jacquet is throwing money down the drain
Chelsea have done this before. Spend big on young talent when they have already done so in the past, and the player ends up drowning in competition and the pressure of playing for a club like Chelsea.
How much would you be willing to pay for Jeremy Jacquet?💰
Rennes name Jeremy Jacquet price tag
Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Chelsea already boast young centre-backs with huge potential. Chalobah and Fofana have proved they can make it in the Premier League and actually, combine to become a centre-back pairing for years.
There is no doubt that Jacquet is a huge talent and possibly has more potential than the other two but if Chelsea are to bring in a centre-back this month, it is because they feel immediate impact is required.
What Chelsea lack more than anything at centre-back is leadership. At 20, Jacquet is not going to come in and be that. Instead, Chelsea need a more experienced option that will command respect from others.
The perfect centre-back signing is one that knows what it means to play for Chelsea and one others can learn from. Antonio Rudiger would be the ideal signing. £60m on Jacquet is throwing money away.
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