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Arsenal don’t need to do much this January in terms of transfers, but will they rue letting a Premier League rival agree terms with one of Europe’s hottest prospects?
Arsenal’s squad is complete as it has been at any point since Arsene Wenger’s time in charge but this doesn’t mean that they should stop looking to strengthen one of the best in Europe.
Mikel Arteta has built one of the best defences around and has proven that he can spot a centre-half or two, but it looks like he could miss out on a player who has been tipped for the very top. To make matters worse, it could be a London and Premier League rival who could pip the Gunners boss to a player who models himself on Virgil van Dijk.
Jeremy Jacquet agrees personal terms over Premier League move
Chelsea are reported to have moved quickly to land one of Europe’s most promising talents and a player on Arteta’s shortlist. Liverpool had also targeted Jeremy Jacquet, but Fabrizio Romano has issued an update that could see Liam Rosenior land his first signing via X: “Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Jeremy Jacquet, the clear main target at centre-back. Contract ready, player keen and talks ongoing with Rennes asking for club record sale fee around €65m. #CFC bid currently lower. A mission to France already took place.”
Chelsea have no fewer than seven senior centre-halves on their books with Levi Colwill, probably, being the strongest to start most weeks. Unfortunately, the England international’s anterior cruciate ligament injury means that his season and chances of playing in the World Cup are all but over. Jacquet won’t have agreed to move to Stamford Bridge to sit on the bench with the 20-year old France Under-21 international harbouring his own World Cup ambitions.
For Arsenal, Jacquet would have been a quality addition to the squad and provide depth to William Saliba and Gabriel, however, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera have both stepped up when they have been called up. Hincapie has also shown his versatility by covering at left-back too. Spending over £50m on a centre-half simply isn’t needed at this moment in time.
What Jacquet has said this season about impressing in Ligue 1
Speaking to L’Equipe earlier in the season via Ligue 1’s official website, the 6ft 3inch tall stopper praised the benefits of a loan spell in Ligue 2 that saw him earn his breakthrough at Rennes: “When you’re young, the most important thing is to play. That came from me and my family. I didn’t hesitate. It shows I’m confident in myself and ready to make sacrifices to reach my goals.”
“I inherited respect and humility from them,” he says of his parents and older brother. “With that, it’s impossible for me to act like someone who doesn’t want to work."
One of Jacquet’s biggest strengths is his ability on the ball, a quality that comes from his academy days being spent as a midfielder before Rennes coaches moved him back: “They told me, ‘Jérém, go play centre-back.’ I resisted at first, but they were right. They knew better.”
“I’m calm on the ball, maybe I can look a bit nonchalant — but I’m focused. What defines me is playing out well, breaking lines with the right pass.”
What might not go down so well for Chelsea fans is who his idols are: “As a defender, Van Dijk and Konaté. But as a kid, it was Pogba — I wanted to play like him.”
If Jacquet turns up at Stamford Bridge and plays like a hybrid of Virgil van Dijk and Paul Pogba, Arteta might not be quite so happy at losing out.
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