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Liam Rosenior | Getty Images
Chelsea have the opportunity to bolster their squad before the end of the January transfer window under Liam Rosenior
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior was picked as the club’s replacement for Enzo Maresca after catching the eye at Strasbourg, but now he not only has to try and turn results around and hold on to a top four finish, but to oversee the continuous rebuild of the squad - with the 41-year-old likely to have some new players to work with at Stamford Bridge before the end of the transfer window.
The Blues are back in action on Wednesday night with a European clash against Pafos - but they’re also working hard in the transfer market, with a fresh January deal seemingly getting closer to completion.
Chelsea in ‘talks’ with Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet
Chelsea are in “talks” with Rennes defender Jérémy Jacquet, per a report by BBC Sport. The 20-year-old is being tipped for a bright future in the game and has emerged on Rosenior's radar this winter. However, they may have to fork out a fee of over £60million to try and lure him over to London.
Jacquet, 20, has a lot of potential and is under contract with his current club until the summer of 2029. As such, the French outfit are under no immediate pressure to sell him this month and can wait for his price tag to be matched before they consider cashing in. He has made 17 appearances for them in all competitions this season, 16 of which have come in the league, and is a regular starter in Ligue 1.
The youngster has been on the books of Rennes since joining them in 2019 and has since risen up through their academy ranks, and was a regular at various different youth levels before breaking into B team in 2022. The prospect was also loaned out to Clermont Foot in 2024 to get some experience under his belt and boost his development.
Would Jacquet suit Chelsea and Liam Rosenior?
Chelsea head coach Rosenior has been brought in to work with young players and make them better - and Jacquet could be a perfect example of the kind of player who would benefit from Rosenior’s tutelage and fit the bill for the Blues. He is a promising talent and would be a shrewd long-term addition.
He made his senior debut for Rennes in 2024 in a league fixture against OGC Nice and hasn't looked back since. He has played 29 matches and has become one of their most prized assets. Despite the fact he penned an extension to his deal last year, they will still face a real battle to keep hold of him amid attention from elsewhere.
The Blues will see him as someone to bolster their defensive department ahead of the rest of this campaign. He would give them more competition and depth at the back. In addition, he would battle it out with the likes of Trevoh Chalobah, Benoît Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo, among others, for a place in their starting XI.
Time will tell whether Chelsea will be able to get a deal over the line between now and the deadline on Monday 2 February. In the meantime, Rosenior will be eager to build some momentum and get all his ideas across to his players. They have a league clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this weekend once they get their tie against Pafos out of the way.
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