Fulham v Chelsea - Premier League - Source: Getty
Fulham v Chelsea - Premier League - Source: Getty
Chelsea are reportedly facing an uphill task in their pursuit of Stade Rennes’ Jeremy Jacquet, with the Ligue 1 club now upping the ante on the Premier League giants for their interest in the defender.
Last week, a report from The Telegraph claimed that Chelsea have been linked with Jacquet and intend to acquire his services in the ongoing transfer window. As per Sky Germany, the Frenchman is expected to command a price between €55 and €65 million despite his current market value standing at €20 million.
The Blues hierarchy reportedly wants a defender who can play out from the back, and they deem Jacquet will fit into new manager Liam Rosenior’s squad.
However, the 20-year-old has been an ever-present figure for Rennes this season, and his performances have consequently piqued the interest of other teams in Europe. To this end, his suitors will have to cough up a significant amount before Rennes can sanction his departure.
In the latest development, Sport Witness reported that Rennes haven’t ruled out Jacquet’s exit and would require Chelsea to make an ‘XXL offer’ of over €70 million to acquire his services. It was added that if the FIFA Club World Cup champions make a convincing offer, Rennes could be tempted to part ways with the player.
The report was further corroborated by Fabrizio Romano, who stated that Rennes are prepared to demand a record fee for the player and would like to sell him for an amount greater than they sold Jeremy Doku to Manchester City, pegged at the same range as in the aforementioned source.
Fabrizio Romano provides update on Chelsea loanee Kendry Paez
Romano on Monday claimed Chelsea are in talks over cancelling Kendry Paez’s loan spell at Strasbourg and are considering loaning the midfielder to any English club to aid his development. The Blues signed Paez from Independiente in January 2025 for a reported fee of €10 million, but the 18-year-old has yet to feature in the senior team.
Romano had earlier said Paez could leave Strasbourg in the next two weeks, with talks already taking place to assess the best solution. Speaking later on DAZN Futbol, Romano said of the player:
"Kendry Páez's situation at Strasbourg is an interesting one. He's not getting much playing time. Talks are ongoing to find the best solution, possibly a loan move to an English club within the next two weeks to aid his development before joining Chelsea."