Former Birmingham City striker Christophe Dugarry has suggested Liverpool transfer fee of Jeremy Jacquet of Rennes is 'meaningless'
Jeremy Jacquet of Stade Rennais
Jeremy Jacquet of Stade Rennais(Image: Neal Simpson/Allstar/Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been called "suckers" for agreeing a £60million deal to sign Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes. And the future Reds centre-back has been warned he will face increased pressure to perform due to his "ridiculous" transfer fee.
Jacquet will move to Merseyside this summer after Liverpool fought off a challenge from Chelsea to agree a fee for the 20-year-old worth an initial £55m with a potential £5m in add-ons.
The defender, who will officially arrive on July 1, has made just 36 appearances in Ligue 1 and only won his first cap for France's under-21 side last March.
And France World Cup winner and former Birmingham City striker Christophe Dugarry believes Liverpool have paid massively over the odds for a player he believes will now have an unfair amount of expectation on his shoulders as a consequence.
"This isn't meant to offend the player; honestly, he's not to blame at all, and we wish him all the best because he's a good player," said Duggary.
"When you have suckers like that... well done to Rennes. Rennes managed to find a sucker like Liverpool for 72m euros.
"And even for poor little Jacquet, this transfer is going to put a lot of pressure on him. Even him, the poor kid, who is certainly a very good player, is going to arrive with a pall of pressure.
"His performances will be viewed differently, even though he doesn't deserve it. Those of us who know football, let's not try to justify this amount by saying it's because Liverpool has money or whatever. It's meaningless!
"I don't know what's going on. It's ridiculous! No, it's not supply and demand. It's ridiculous! It's ridiculous!"
Liverpool were in the summer of 2024 keen on young Lille centre-back Leny Yoro, who instead joined Manchester United for £52m.
And speaking on podcast Rothen s'enflamme from French outlet RMC Sport, Duggary added: "Let them continue, all these English clubs, sending tens of millions of euros. This isn't just a two-tiered football situation anymore, it's a football that's lost its mind.
"Let's stop trying to pretend there's a justification for it. There's no justification whatsoever."