Liverpool have agreed a deal with Rennes to sign Jeremy Jacquet in the summer, while the Reds view him as a more long-term prospect compared to previous target Marc Guehi, who joined Manchester City
Liverpool are set to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in the summer
Liverpool are set to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in the summer(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool view Jeremy Jacquet as a more valuable long-term acquisition than Marc Guehi, after the Reds agreed a deal to sign the 20-year-old Rennes defender in the summer.
The ECHO understands that Liverpool are set to bring in the France Under-21 international for £55million plus £5m in add-ons at the end of the season, having held talks with the Ligue 1 side over the weekend.
The Reds have beaten Chelsea and Bayern Munich to sign the highly-rated centre-back, who landed on Merseyside on Monday morning and is due to complete the formalities of his blockbuster move to Anfield.
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As part of the agreement, Jacquet would spend the rest of the season with Rennes before linking up with Liverpool in the summer. He would form a key part of a defensive rebuild that started with the signing of teenager Giovanni Leoni from Parma for an initial £26m, though the teenager has made just one first-team appearance for the Reds after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury on his debut.
It's thought that Jacquet wanted to remain at Rennes for the remainder of the season to help secure European qualification. They sit in a Conference League position in sixth in the Ligue 1 table at present.
Rennes are also not prepared to sell Jacquet in January, after losing 18-year-old forward Kader Meite to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal last week. Personal terms are not expected to be a problem for Jacquet, who has given the green light on a move to the Reds despite interest from elsewhere.
Jeremy Jacquet
Jeremy Jacquet is Liverpool-bound(Image: Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport)
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Should a deal get finalised as expected, Jacquet would become the latest talented young player to join the Reds after Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Leoni moved there last summer.
Liverpool did want to sign Marc Guehi, but a £35m move from Crystal Palace on deadline day, and the England international subsequently joined Manchester City in the January transfer window. But it appears that the Reds are not displeased to have agreed a deal with Jacquet and missed out on Guehi.
Indeed, according to The Athletic, Liverpool view Jacquet as being a more valuable long-term signing than Guehi in their model, hence the push to sign the Rennes man. They are trying to build a team for the next generation, having signed eight first-team players aged 25 and under across the last 18 months.
With Jacquet now arriving in the summer, the Reds are not anticipated to sign a first-team player before Monday's 7pm deadline, despite Arne Slot hinting at potential incomings on Saturday.
Speaking after the 4-1 win against Newcastle, Slot said: "I think we are trying to strengthen the squad and not trying to weaken it. But yeah, 48 hours to go. Let's see where the window ends up."
Jacquet has played 19 times for Rennes this season, helping them keep five clean sheets. He started Saturday's crushing 4-0 defeat against European rivals Monaco.
Marc Guehi
Marc Guehi came close to joining Liverpool last summer before signing for Manchester City in January
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