Liam Rosenior is set to have a new defender in his squad.placeholder image
Liam Rosenior is set to have a new defender in his squad. | Getty Images
The Blues look to beat Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool to the highly rated Ligue 1 centre-back.
Chelsea are readying a marquee £43 million bid in their latest attempts to green light a transfer swoop for Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet this month.
In an update on Sunday afternoon, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano shared 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 send fresh £43 million bid to Rennes
RMC Sport now claim that Chelsea will table a €50 million - around £43 million - for the player. That figure is still significantly under what Rennes hope to receive but the Premier League side will hope that their agreement of personal terms could force the French side’s hand.
Jacquet is under contract until 2029, which does give Rennes negotiating power. Over the weekend, it was reported that the club hopes to break their record transfer sale when shaking hands on a deal with Chelsea.
That record is currently held by Jeremy Doku, who left Rennes for Manchester City in 2023 for €64 million. Jacquet remains one of the top defensive prospects in France and his profile as a ball-playing centre-back fits what Chelsea are looking for. Rennes are not expected to budge until an offer closer to the €60 million mark is fielded.
Arsenal and Liverpool also interested in Jeremy Jacquet
While Chelsea continue to lowball, they will hope that it does not give Premier League rivals Arsenal or Liverpool a chance to seal in. The Gunners continue to look to recruit young while the Reds are in the market for a centre-back having missed out on Crystal Palace man Marc Guehi.
Last week, TEAMtalk claimed that Arsenal had emerged as ‘real contenders’ to sign Jacquet with Andrea Berta a big fan of the player. That report named Liverpool, Manchester United and La Liga giants Real Madrid as other suitors for the player, alongside Chelsea.
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior was asked about the club’s transfer plans last week and said: “I think if we do, it needs to be the right player. We need to be patient. I want to assess this group. It's really, really important to me.
“We still have time. We have conversations every day, myself and the board, about potential transfers, both out and in. But at the same time, I need to focus on the players in the building. If I feel it's the right time or the right player, then we'll make that decision.”
In other news, Chelsea recall striker ahead of 'imminent' Celtic and Derby County transfer decision.
Continue Reading